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HTHE
STORY OF A REGIMENT
liEING A NARRATIVE OF THE
bervice of the Second Reo'iment,
MINNESOTA VETERAN VOLUNTEER
INFANTRY,
In the Civil War of 1861-186^,
JUDSON \V. BISHOP,
!
(Late Colonel and Bvt. Brig. Genl. U. S. V.)
WRITTEN AND PUBLISHED FOR, AND BY REQUEST OF THE
SURVIVING MEMBERS OF THE REGIMENT.
ST. PAUL, MINN.
1890.
Kf
THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
427018A
ASrOR, LENOX AND
TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
R 1929 L
INTRODUCTION.
In response to the often repeated request of my
comrades, now surviving, of the Second Minnesota
Regiment, I recenth' promised to write a connected
narrative of the service of the regiment from 1861
to 1865.
Having been the first man to be mustered into
that regiment and the last man to be mustered
out of it, and having served continuously in it
from first to. last, and having for more than half
the term of service, had the responsibility- of its
administration, discipline and command, it should
not be a difficult task for me to make a continuous
record of all important events in its histor3^ As
moreover its services were always and everywhere
honorable, efficient and satisfactory, it should be,
and is, a labor of love to review and record them.
But amid the absorbing and varied cares of a
busy life I have found it impossible to give to the
work the continuous attention that is necessary to
perform such work well, and I should not be
satisfied with it now, if I could suppose that I
should ever have the leisure time in which to im-
prove upon it.
It is intended to be and I believe is, a faithful
and truthful record of facts and events, and as such
2 Introduction.
will be tested without discredit b\^ the official
reports and the diaries and letters of the time
With less care in this respect, and with more free-
dom of invention and imagination, a more
interesting and readable war storj- could doubtless
have been made of it.
In writing the story of the regiment the frequent
mention of names has been avoided. A great
many of the seventeen hundred and eighty men
who were members of it have well deserved personal
mention for gallant and meritorious conduct, else
the regiment as such could not have acquired its
conceded high reputation, but it is obviously
impossible to mention all, or some without omitting
others equally worthy, and my comrades generally
will, I trust, be content to claim the historj' of
the regiment, which they helped to make, as their
own, and be proud of it as they have a right to be.
A part of the record history of the regiment
consists of such correspondence, official reports,
orders and recommendations as would encumber
the progress of the narrative if placed therein ;
these are given in the appendix, usually in full, and
from official sources. Some of them are now for
the first time in print and all of them will be of
interest to members of the regiment.
I had proposed to append also a complete
roster giving the official military record of each
and all the members of the regiment, but I find
upon examination, that the only record thus far
compiled is imperfect, erroneous and unsatisfactory.
The compilation of a new and complete one from
original rolls and records is impracticable within
Introduction. $
the time at my command, and I am thus compelled
to close the book without it.
This is less to be regretted, however, in view of
the fact that the State has by law provided Tor
the preparation of an official roster of all the
Minnesota soldiers, of which every such soldier
now surviving (or his representative if dead) is to
receive a copy free of expense.
I am under obligations to comrades D. C.
Wilson, Wm. Bircher and M. D. E. Runals for the
use of their daily journals (1861 to 1865) which
have been valuable references in locating events
and dates.
The work, such as it is. Comrades, is now sub-
mitted in the hope that it will meet your kind
approval and that it may revive, as you read it, your
interest and pride in the memory of our regiment
and of your service in and with it, as it has in-
deed revived mine to prepare the record for you.
J. W. BISHOP.
St. Paul, June, 1890.
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
CHAPTER I.— Getting Into the Service 17
The war opens at Sumpter — The President's call
for troops — Gov. Ramsey- tenders a regiment — The
executive proclamation — The Adjutant General's
order — The militia companies — Company " A " holds
a meeting — And volunteers — And is formally tend-
ered— And accepted for the 1st regiment — Is after-
wards left out as supernumerary — And aw^aits a call
for a second regiment — Marching orders received —
The compan3' re-enlists for three 3'ears — Reports at
Fort Snelling — Is mustered into the service — Marches
to Fort Ripley — Other companies report and are
mustered in — Field and staff officers are appointed —
Regiment assembled at Fort Snelling — Preparations
for going Sovith — Mrs. and Miss Van Cleve.
CHAPTER II.— Going TO the War 26
We leave Fort Snelling — The march through
St. Paul — Voyage down the river — La Crosse —
Chicago and the "Wigwam" — Our Pittsburg Re-
ception— Orders changed — A voyage down the Ohio
river — Louisville, Kentucky — A call on Gen. Sher-
man— A night ride to Lebanon Junction — Assigned
to Gen. Geo. H. Thomas' division — Relieved by 3rd
Minnesota regiment— Ordered to Lebanon— Brigaded
with other regiments — The mules and the wagoners.
CHAPTER III.— The Mill Springs Campaign 33
Our march out on New Year's day — Leaving
the "pike" — Rain, mud and discomfort— Onh' the
6 Index.
PAGE.
top rail — Apple jack — Logan's cross roads — Topo-
graphy— Assembling the troops — Out on picket —
The night before the battle — The attack upon the
pickets — Long roll in the camps — The battle opens —
The 2nd Minnesota goes in — The fighting "through
the same fence" — Killing of Bailie Peyton — A bay-
onet charge — Hon. Charles Schefifer — Death of Gen.
Zollicoflfer — The enem3^ routed — Our pursuit — Biv-
ouac on Moulden's Hill — We occupy the enemy's
camp next morning — Captured artillery, animals
and stores — Battle flag captured by 2nd Minne-
sota— Killed and wounded.
CHAPTER IV.— Mill Springs to Shiloh 49
Return march to Louisville — Dr. Jackson's farm —
A flag presented by the loyal ladies of Louisville —
Voyage down the Ohio river to Smithfield — And ixp
the Cumberland to Nashville — March from Nash-
ville— Detention at Duck river — Rain, mud and night
marching — Arrival at Savannah — By river to
Shiloh — The battle field — Burial of the dead — Col.
VanCleve promoted — Band mustered out — Halleck's
arrival — Seige of Corinth — Evacuation, and pursuit
of the enemy — Disappointment and disgust.
CHAPTER V. — Corinth to Louisville 57
Our march eastward — Camp at Tuscumbia—
Fourth of July — Gov. Ramsey's visit — The "bugle
band" organized— Florence— Sensational proceedings
in church — " Kingdom Comin" — The plundering of
Athens, Tennessee — The murder of Gen. Robert L.
McCook — Company " C " 3rd Minnesota regiment —
News of the Indian massacre in Minnesota — Lieut.
Col. Wilkin appointed Colonel of 9th Minnesota
regiment — March to Nashville — Bragg's army
crosses the Cumberland — The race for Louisville —
Seventy miles in three da\^s — "Sink holes" and
"dough gods" — The battle of the apples — Cave
Index. 7
PAGE.
City — A hard march via Elizabethtown to the Ohio
river at the mouth of Salt river — Steamers to Louis-
ville— Orders relieving Buell issued and suspended.
CHAPTER VI.— The Perryville Campaign 69
Killing of Gen. William Nelson — Reorganization of
of the army — Capt. Gilbert and Capt. Gay assigned
to command over their seniors — We march out to
find the enemy — A seventeen mile skirmish — The
battle of Perryville — Our brigade ordered in at twi-
light— A startling experience — Comments on the
battle — The pursuit to Crab Crchard — A cocky In-
spector General — An arrest ordered and trouble
promised — Crab Orchard via Lebanon, Cave Cit}^
and Bowling Green to Mitchelville — Repairing the
tunnel — Camp at Cunningham's Ford — Capture of
new regiments — Gallatin, Tennessee — Proclamation
of Emancipation — A. lard mine — Ordered to rejoin
the division.
CHAPTER VII.— Triune and Tullahoma 80
A vain chase after Wheeler's cavalr3^ — Camp at
the Battle farm — The Battle family — An inspection
of the regiment — Col. George goes to Minnesota —
A brilliant fight by our foraging part3' — Congratu-
lator3^ orders — Good-by to the Battle family — An
expedition to Harpeth river — A quick march to
Chapel Hill— A fight and capture of prisoners —
Encampment at Triune — Building fortifications —
Our detail samples Gen. Steedman's whiskey — We
get Enfield rifles— Gen. Schofield succeeds Steedman,
and Gen. Brannan succeeds Schofield in the com-
mand of the division — Brigade exercises — "Pup
tents" issued — A grand review — A night march to
Franklin — An inhospitable reception — Tvillahoma
campaign begins — A rainy day skirmish — An as-
tonished surgeon — Hoover's Gap — Tullahoma
captured — Fording Elk river.
8 Index.
PAGE.
CHAPTER VIII.— The Campaign and Battle of
Chicamauga 91
Up the Cumberland mountains — An adjourned
university — Battle Creek — Picketing the Tennessee
river — Building rafts and scows — Crossing the
river — Nic-a-Jack Cave — Crossing Racoon moun-
tain— Lookout Valley — Lookout Mountain — Lee's
Mill — A scrimmage at Pond Springs — The night
march before the battle — That breakfast we never
ate — The opening of Chicamauga — Our first day's
battle — The stampeded brigade — Charge of the 9th
Ohio — Desperate fighting of our brigade — Final
repulse of the enem^' — Next day in reserve — The
skulkers — The \Vounded general officer — Ordered to
the left flank — Fight with Breckenridge's division —
Change of front under fire — Dispersion of the enem3' —
Snodgrass Hill — Gen. Thomas — A memorable after-
noon— Ovir successful defense of the ridge — With-
drawal to Rossville at night — Ever\^ man accounted
for — Our brigade commander's report — Heavy loss
of our brigade.
CHAPTER IX.— Chattanooga and Mission Ridge 113
Establishing the parallel camps in line of battle —
Scanty supply of food, forage and clothing — Our
diversions "such as they \vere" — Skirmishing for
fuel — The big guns on Lookout — Reorganization-
Col. George is again compelled to leave us — Topo-
graphy of Chattanooga — Enemy signalling over our
heads — Opening of the "Cracker line" — Prepara-
tions for the grand battle — Hooker's battle above
the clouds — Sherman's attack on Mission Ridge —
Grand and successful assault on Mission Ridge by
the Army of the Cumberland — Official report of our
regimental commander — Movements of our brigade
and of our regiment deployed in the front — Capture
of the first line of breastworks — Our brigade com-
mander commends the 2nd Minnesota — Comments
on the battle.
Index. 9
PAGE.
CHAPTER X.— Veteranizing 128
Return to Chattanooga — Burying the Chica-
mauga dead — Invited to reinlist — Discussion in the
camps — Eighty per cent decide favorably, and are
re-enlisted as veterans — The non-veterans are de-
tached— The regiment starts for Minnesota — Steam-
ers to Bridgeport— Box cars to Nashville— And thence
to Louisville — The freedom of the city claimed and
granted for the veterans — Our old muskets turned
in — A memorable ride to Chicago — That breakfast
at Crawfordsville — The sleigh ride from La Crosse
to St. Paul — Hospitalit}- of Winona people — Warm
reception of the veterans at St. Paul — The veteran
furlough — Public reception at Chatfield — Address by
the regimental commander — Reassembling at Fort
Snelling — Ovir entertainment by the ladies of St.
Anthony — Return by stages to La Crosse — Col.
George rejoins here and assumes command — By rail
to Nashville — March thence to Bridgeport — Rejoin
division at Ringgold, Georgia.
CHAPTER XL— The Atlanta Campaign 142
Stripping for work — Reconnoisance — The cam-
paign begins — Tunnel Hill — Snake Creek Gap —
Dalton, then Resaca, evacuated — Calhoun — Cass-
ville — The 9th Ohio goes home — The famous "hun-
dred days" — Intrenching a line under fire — A battery-
comes into action — Lieut. Jones killed — Gen. How-
ard's account of it — Kenesaw mountain — An unrest-
ful camp — A moonlight march— A sad event — Col.
George and our non-veterans mustered out — Unsuc-
cessful assault of Davis' division — Kenesaw evacu-
ated— Recruits arrive — Garrison duty at Marietta —
Again to the front — More recruits — Back to Mari-
etta— Post and Garrison duty — Again to the front —
Battle of Jonesboro — Atlanta evacuated — Force and
casualties report — An unpleasant history — Gen.
Thomas requests the Governor to fill up the regi-
ment— Lieut. Col. Bishop sent to Minnesota for the
10 Index.
PAGE.
recruits — And returns — Hood's army in our rear and
our pursuit — Silver horns for the band — Return to
Atlanta.
CHAPTER XH.— The March to the Sea 156
The burning of Atlanta — Our march out east-
ward— Unbuilding the railroad — An iinfortunate
train — A resurrection — Howell Cobb's farm — Mill-
edgeville — A provisional legislature — Repeal of the
Ordinance of Secession — The foragers and their
methods — No straggling allowed — A Methodist
minister among the conscripts — "See that you fall
not out b}' the way" — After the enemj^'s cavalry —
Rice with the Ijark on — A foraging expedition — Fort
McAllister falls— Supplies from the fleet — Savannah
evacuated — 40 days' mail — Irish potatoes— Christ-
mas and fresh oysters — Chaplain Gleason— Grand
review in Savannah — Our regiment ordered into the
cit3' — In charge of Central railroad grounds and
propert}' — Maj.Uline sent to Minnesota for recruits.
CHAPTER XIII.— Savannah to Raleigh 168
The campaign of the Carolinas — We leave Savan-
nah— Sister's Ferry — Cross the river into South
Carolina — Devastation of the country— Barnwell
Court House — Destroying the railroad — Pontooning
the rivei- — The countr}' on fire— Burning of Colum-
bia—Sunday work— The Catawba river— A precari-
ous crossing— Hanging Rock battle ground — The
Great Pedee river— Cross into North Carolina — A
burning stream— Fay etteville— Destruction of the
arsenal — Battle of Bentonville— Arrival at Golds-
boro — An impromptu review-60da3's' mail at once —
A military execution — An inspection — The band —
Maj. Uline returns — Some promotions — News of
Lee's surrender— Advance to Raleigh— State Insane
Asylum— Johnston's surrender— Halleck's discour-
tesj towards Sherman.
Index. 11
PAGE.
CHAPTER XIV.— Richmond, Washington and Home. .181
"A comfortable and leisurely march" — A race of
the 14th and 20th corps — We cross into Virginia —
Our arrival at Richmond — Forbidden to enter the
city — Gen. Halleck proposes to review the 14th
corps — Sherman countermands it — And orders our
march to Washington — We "route step" through
Richmond — The Chicahominy — Pamunke^- — Rapi
dan and Rappahannock rivers — Bristoe station —
Alanassas and Bull Run battle fields — Alexandria —
The grand review in Washington — A magnificent
military spectacle — Change of encampment — A visit
and review by Gen. Geo. H. Thomas — Reorganiza-
tion of our division — Col. Bishop assigned to com-
mand thelstbrigade — Voyagedownthe Ohio river —
Encampment at Louisville — 20 days of suspense —
Muster for discharge — Farewell orders and ad-
dresses by our division and corps commanders — By
rail to Chicago and La Crosse — Steamer to Fort
Snelling — A parade march at Winona — Grand recep-
tion at St. Paul — Encamp at Fort Snelling — Fare-
well address b^' the Colonel — Final pa3'ment and
discharge — Dispersion of the men and "good-b3'."
CHAPTER XV.— Concluding Remarks 192
In the beginning, the inexperience of officers and
men — Organization and duty b^' companies — The
regiment becomes later the unit — Brigading b3^
States — The soldier learns how to take care of him-
self— The evolution of discipline — To be always
"present and ready" — Army transportation — "Pup
tents" — Regimental Bands — Our "pioneer corps" —
Recruiting the veteran regiments — Comparative
inefficiency of new regiments — .Average good physi-
cal condition of the old soldier — The\' have generally
been successful in civil life — .\nd partially because of
their military experience and training — The Great
Bej'oud.
APPKNOIX.
PAGK.
No. 1. Adjutant General's order (State of Minnesota)
tocaptainsof militia companies. April 17th, 1861. ..203
No. 2. Acceptance (telegram) of Company "A" by
Lieut. Gov. Ignatius Donnelly. April 22nd, 1861. ...203
No. 3. Acceptance (letter) of Compan^v "A" b\' Lieut.
Gov. Ignatius Donnelly. April 22nd, 1861 203
No. 4. Order by John B. Sanborn, Adjutant General, to
Company "A" to turn over the arms and equip-
ments for companies of the 1st regiment. April
26th. 1861 204
No. 5. Tender of " Chatfield Guards'" as unconditional
volunteers. May 4th, 1861 204
No. 6. Application of "Chatfield Guards" for reissue
of arms and equipments. June 7th, 1861 204
No. 7. Orders from Adjutant General's office to design-
ate the post commander at Fort Snelling. June
26th, 1861 205
No. 8. Gen. Geo. H. Thomas' report transmitting a
rebel flag, captured b3' 2nd Minnesota regiment at
Mill Springs. Dated February 3rd, 1862 205
No. 9. Report of battle of Mill Springs, by Col. H. P.
Van Cleve, commanding 2nd regiment Minnesota
volunteers. Dated January 22nd, 1862 206
Index to Appendix. 13
PAGE.
No. 10. Official list of killed and wounded of 2nd Min-
nesota regiment at battle of Mill Springs. (12
killed and 33 wounded.) 207
No. 11. Report of battle of Mill Springs, by Col.
Robert L. McCook, commanding 3rd brigade, 1st
division. Dated January 27th, 1862 208
No. 12. Report of battle of Mill Springs, b^v Gen.
George H. Thomas, commanding 1st division.
Dated January 31st, 1862 211
No. 13. Gen. W. S. Rosecrans' order commending the
2nd Minnesota regiment (after inspection by Capt.
James Curtis) as " worthy of imitation " 215
No. 14. Complimentary order by Col. Van Derveer,
commanding 3rd brigade, commending the gallant
conduct of Sergant L. N. Holmes and fourteen men
of Company "H" in repulsing an attack of rebel
calvar^^ Dated F'ebruary, 1863 215
No. 15. Report (referring to No. 14) of Gen. J. B. Steed-
man, commanding division. Dated Februar3' 15th,
1863 216
No. 16. Report of battle of Chicamauga, by Col. James
George, commanding 2nd Minnesota regiment.
Dated September 25th, 1863 216
No. 17. Official list of killed, wounded and captured of
the 2nd Minnesota regiment at battles of Chica-
mauga. (Killed 35, wounded 113, captured 14;
total loss, 162.) 219
No. 18. Supplementary report of Col. James George,
commanding 2nd Minnesota regiment, commending
certain officers and men, "for gallant and meritori-
ous conduct." Dated September 30th, 1863 223
No. 19. Report of battles of Chicamauga, by Col. F.
Van Derveer, commanding 3rd brigade. Dated
September 25th, 1863 225
14 Index to Appendix.
PAGE.
No. 20. Col. James George recommended for pro-
motion 232
No. 21. Official list of killed and wounded of the 2nd
Minnesota regiment in battles of Mission Ridge.
(Killed 5, wounded 34. ) 233
No. 22. Supplementary- report of battle of Mission
Ridge, by Lieut. Col. J. W. Bishop, commanding
2nd Minnesota regiment. Dated December 10th,
1863 235
No. 23. Report of battle of Mission Ridge, b^- Col.
Van Derveer, commanding 3rd brigade 237
No. 24. Regimental promotions recommended by bri-
gade, division, corps and department commanders.
Dated July 14, 1864 241
No. 25. Official report of killed and wounded of 2nd
Minnesota regiment in Atlanta campaign. (Killed
4, wounded 30.) 242
No. 26. Complimentarj' letter from Gen. A. Baird,
commanding division, to Hon. S. Miller, Governor
of Minnesota, commending 2nd Minnesota regi-
ment, and asking for recruits to fill up the regiment. 243
No. 27. Report of force and casualties of 2nd Minne-
sota regiment in the campaign of the Carolinas.
(Wounded 2, captured 5.) Dated March 23rd, 1865.244
No. 28. Gen. Bishop attributes his brevet to Brigadier
General to the gallant and soldierh^ conduct of the
2nd regiment 246
No. 29. The promotion twice recommended and re-
quested by the corps and army commanders 247
No. 30. The 2nd Minnesota regiment reported ready
for discharge and requests orders to Fort Snelling,
Minnesota 248
No. 31. The Corps Commander's farewell address 249
Index to Appendix. 15
PAGE.
No. 32. Orders to proceed to Fort SnelHng, Minnesota. 250
No. 33. Roster of officers when regiment left Minne-
sota for the South, October, 1861 251
No. 34. Roster of officers when regiment veteranized,
January, 1864 251
No. 35. Roster of officers at final muster out, July,
. 1865 '..252
No. 36. Various statistics of the regiment 253
No. 37. Reunion letters, (1887), from Col. H. V. N.
Boynton, Col. F. Van Derveer, Gen. A. Baird and
Gen. W. S. Rosecrans 254
Error — See page 58. Gov. Ramse3''s visit to Tuscumbia
was not on, but a few days after the 4th July, 1862.
THE
SECOND REGIMENT
MINNESOTA VETERAN VOLUNTEER
INFANTRV
CIVIL WAR OF 1861-186,-.
CHAPTER I.
GETTING INTO THE SERVICE.
The surrender and evacuation of Fort Sumter
on the morning of Sunday, April 14-th, 1861, was
followed on Monday, the 15th, by the President's
proclamation and call for 75,000 men to serve
three months.
In orders from the war department, these were
apportioned among the several states not then in
open rebellion, in ninety-four regiments of 780 men
each, the remainder (1,680 men) to be contributed
by the District of Columbia.
Hon. Alex. Ramsey, Governor of Minnesota,
being then in Washington, immediately tendered
the regiment re(|uired from this state, and an
executive proclamation, signed by Lieut. Governor
Ignatius Donnelly, was published in St. Paul. April
16th. It was accompanied by ''Special Order No.
18 The Story of the Second Regiment
1," Adjutant General's office, State of Minnesota,
April 16th, 1861, by Wm. H. Acker, Adjutant General.
This order called for one regiment of ten com-
panies, each of 76 officers and men, and it provided
that "the first ten companies so organized and
"reported ready for service at this office b}' their
"respective captains will be received, provided that
"the several militia companies alread\^ organized
"will be entitled to the preference for the space of
"ten days from this date, upon comphang with
"the foregoing requirements."
The said companies already organized were
named, including Company "A" of Chatfield, Fill-
more county, of which the w^riter was captain,
and seven others, located at Mankato, New Ulm,
St. Anthonj^ Clear Water, St. Cloud, St. Paul, and
Stillwater respectiveh'. [Appendix No. 1.)
There were (in 1861 ) no railroads in Minnesota
and no telegraph lines except the single wire from
St. Paul along the river bank to LaCrosse, Wis.
The proclamation and special order, mailed on
the 17th were received at Chatfield on the 19th,
and pviblished in "The Democrat," on the 20th,
with a call for a special meeting of the enrolled
members of the "Chatfield Guards," (Compan\^ A)
to be held at the Armor}^ on Monday evening,
April 22nd, to consider the call of the Governor for
volunteers.
At this meeting, which was fully attended, the
call w^as presented, with a brief address b}' the
Captain ; and by a unanimous vote, he was author-
ized to offer the company and "to report it
organized, armed and ready for marching orders."
Minnesota Volunteer Infantry 1861-1865. 19
This tender and report were forwarded by special
messenger the same night to Winona, 35 miles, and
thence by telegraph to the Adjutant General. (No
copy of it can now be found.)
On the 24'th, a telegram was received from Lieu-
tenant (and acting) Governor Ignatius Donnelly,
accepting the company and instructing it to await
marching orders. This was the seventh company
accepted for the first regiment, two companies from
St. Paul, one from St. Anthony and three others
preceding it, having received the call two or three
days earlier. A letter confirming the telegram was
received on the 25th. [Appendix Nos. 2 and 3.)
We were puzzled somewhat by observing that
both telegram and letter were dated April 22nd,
when our tender of service could not have reached
St. Paul until the morning of the 23rd, but satisfied
ourselves by presuming that they had actually
been written on the 23rd and dated by mistake on
the 22nd.
It appeared later that a bogus letter purporting
to tender the company, with 63 men, "which
number cotdd be increased to the full standard
within thirty days," had been sent on the 19th
to the Governor by some person as yet unknown,
who had forged the Captain's name thereto, and
that the telegram and letter of acceptance by
Lieut. Governor Donnelly were in fact in reply to
this bogus tender of a partial company, while our
genuine tender of a full company was not re-
sponded to until the 26th, when the following tele-
gram was sent by i\djutant General Sanborn, who
had in the mean time succeeded Acker, who had
20 The Story of the Second Regiment
resigned to recruit a company, of which he was
later commissioned captain :
"St. Paul, April 26th, 1861.
Capt. J. W. Bishop, Chatfield :
You will keep your ranks full if possible. Eleven full
companies have already tendered their services, and if ten
of these rendezvous here with full ranks your company can-
not be received into this regiment. Some ma^^ not answer
the order of rendezvous.
John B. Sanborn.
Adjutant General."
Meantime, the company, full to the maximum and
with more than thirty supernumeraries, had been
busily preparing for a prompt response to the
expected "marching orders."
If surprised by the telegram, we were, if possible,
more astonished by the arrival on the 29th of a
special messenger Irom the Adjutant General's office,
with an order for our guns and equipments, and the
verbal information that the regiment had been made
up by the acceptance of ten companies, which he
explained were more conveniently accessible to the
rendezvous at Fort Snelling, than ours. (Appendix-
No. 4.)
The disappointment and indignation with whi h
the order was received did not prevent a piompt
comjiliaiice with it, and the captain went to St. Paul
with his guns and without his companv.
The guns were received by the Adjutant General
with expressions of appreciation of our promptness
in volunteering and regret for our disappointment,
but there appeared to be no redress then available,
and the captain was obliged to return to his dis-
armed and disgusted cornpany and dismiss the men
Minnesota Volunteer Infantry 1861-1865. 21
with the promise that, if the war should last long
enough to call for a second regiment, company "A "
should not again get left at home.
After authorizing the offer of their services for
an 3^ regiment thereafter required, the men went to
their homes and resumed their ordinary employ-
ments. [Appendix Nos, 5 and 6.)
A letter to Hon. H. M. Rice, then in Washington
as senator from Minnesota, brought to the writer
a kind reply and assurance that he should have the
earliest possible notice of any further call for troops ;
a promise which was faithfully fulfilled by a telegram
received at Chatfieldin time to enable him to reach
St. Paul a little before the call for a second regi-
ment was received b^^ the governor.
The company was again tendered and accepted,
and the marching orders below quoted were
requested and received on the spot.
"General Headquarters, State of Minnesota.
St. Paul. June 14th, 1865.
Special Order No. 5.
Capt. JuDSON W. Bishop, Chatfield, Fillmore county.
Minnesota :
You will report your company at Fort Snelling without
delay, for the purpose of having the same mustered into the
service and pay of the United States.
Tiy order of the Commander in Chief.
John B. Sanborn,
Adjutant General."
Similar orders were requested and obtained by
Capt. Bishop for Capt. William Markham, who had
a company organized in Olmsted county, which
orders were carried by him to Chatfield and sent by
22 The Story of the Second Regiment
special messenger to Capt. Markham at Rochester,
reaching him next da\\
The war was fairly on now, and the call was for
three j^ears' men instead of three months. It
required several days of active work to reassemble
and reenlist, under the new conditions, enough of
the men to make a full company of eighty-three
men, the minimum now required. Yet it seems in-
credible, as we now look back upon it, that so
many could and would divest themselves of all im-
peding business, social and famih' obligations and
restraints, and commit themselves for three j^ears
to the then unknown hardships and perils of a sol-
dier's life in time of active service.
When we remember that our then young State
sent into the field during the war more than one-
seventh of her entire population by the census of
1860, we appreciate the spirit with which every
loyal heart responded to "The Union, it must, and
shall be preserved."
The enlistments commenced at Chatfield on the
16th of June, and on the morning of the 22nd the
company marched up the winding hillside road to
the table land east of, and overlooking the village,
and there halted for the final adieus.
None w^ho were present "will ever forget that hour
and experience, and we need not try to describe
them to others.
We arrived at Winona, traveling in wagons, the
same evening, and went thence by river to Fort
Snelling, arriving the next day, June 23rd, and on
the 26th were mustered into the service of the
United States, by Capt. A. D. Nelson, U. S. A., as
Minnesota Yoluxteek Infantry 1861-1865. 23
Company "A" of the Second Regiment Minnesota
Volunteer Infantry, and the writer was immediately
assigned to the command of the Post. {Appendix
No' 7.)
Captain Markham's company, which had arrived
on the 24th from Rochester, was mustered in later
in the same day (26th) as Compan}^ *'B" of the
same regiment.
Meantime other companies w^ere being recruited,
and during the next few days were mustered in suc-
cessively, as follows: Companj^ "C" from Dodge
county, "D" from Ramsey, "E" from Nicollet, "F"
from Washington, "G" from Ramsey and Brown,
"H" from Blue Earth, "I" from Goodhue, and "K"
recruited at large.
After being partialh^ armed, uniformed and sup-
plied, Company "A" marched out from Fort Snell-
ing on the 3rd day of July with orders to garrison
the post at Fort Ripley, 130 miles distant on the
upper Mississippi river. This march was made
wholly on foot, in seven days, one wagon being
allowed us for baggage and rations. This was our
first experience on our soldier legs, and to many of
the men it was a pretty tough one, but they all
came through it in good condition and spirit.
Company "F," Capt. John B. Davis, follo^ved us a
few days later to Fort Ripley, and Companies "B"
and " C "went to Fort Abercrombie on the upper Red
river, and Companies "D" and "E" to Fort Ridgely
on the upper Minnesota river ; the other four com-
panies remained at Fort Snelling, w'ith Capt. A. R.
Kiefer of Company "G" as the senior officer in
24 The Story of the Second Regiment
command. Thus located, the next few weeks were
devoted to drill and instruction of the men.
On the 22nd of Jtily the Governor fippointed H.
P. Van Cleve as Colonel, James George as Lieut.
Colonel and Simeon Smith as Major. Lieut. Daniel
Heane\^ of Company "B" was appointed Adjutant
and Lieut. Wm. Grow, of Company "I," Quarter-
master. Two days later Reginald Bingham was
appointed Surgeon, Moody C. Tolman, Assistant
Surgeon, and Rev. Timothy Cressey, Chaplain.
Alajor Smith w^as within a few days appointed pay-
master in the regular army, and on the 10th of Sep-
tember Capt. Alex. Wilkin, of the First Minnesota
Regiment, w^as appointed Major in the Second, rice
Smith.
Col. Van Cleve had been an officer in the regular
army, and Lieut. Col. George and Major Wilkin had
served as volunteer officers in the Mexican war.
None of the other officers had ever had an\' actual
military experience in the field as far as is known
to the writer.
A band of 20 members was here enlisted and
organized, wath Michael Esch as leader, and at the
expense of the State was equipped with instruments
and music.
About the 20th of September, orders were sent
out from Regimental Headquarters recalling the
detached companies from the several garrisoned
posts, and within the first week of October the reg-
iment w^as for the first time assembled at Fort
Snelling, Companies "A" and "F" making, as before,
the march of 130 miles in seven daj'^s, and on arrival
reporting every man "for duty."
Minnesota Volunteer Infantry 1861-1865. 25
Here a few days were devoted to active prepar-
ation for going to "the front." Instruction and
drill, guard mounts and dress parades, and issues
of clothing, equipments, arms and ammunition,
made a very busy week of it. As the time for
departure approached, our camp was thronged
with visitors, some curious to see the evolutions
and parades, and some to take leave of their
soldier boys, ^vho might never return.
Most of the companies were now full or nearly
full to the maximum number (101) and the regiment
paraded nearly a thousand officers and men, well
equipped, and considering their brief service, well
disciplined and instructed, though poorly armed
with old muskets of several different kinds and
calibres ; the best at that time available, we were
told, and so the\' were carried without complaint
until opportunit}^ should arrive to exchange them
for better.
Thus far the post kitchens and mess rooms and
company cooks had provided three bountiful meals
a day ; and except for a few days on the march
we scarcely made the acquaintance of the hard tack
and bacon, now so affectionately remembered by
men who then grumbled at the soft bread, fresh
beef and vegetables so profusely furnished us at
Fort Snelling.
During these busy days Regimental Headquarters
were graced with the presence of Mrs. and Miss
Van Cleve, the Colonel's wife and daughter, whose
kindly interest in everj' thing that concerned the
regiment was always manifest and will be always
26 The Story of the Second Regiment
gratefully remembered by the men. At this writing
(1890) both of these ladies are among the surviving
and honorary members of the regiment.
CHAPTER II.
GOING TO THE WAR.
On the morning of the 14th of October, 1861,
the regiment embarked on a large river steamboat
under orders for Washington, D. C. An hour
later we had disembarked at the upper levee in
St. Paul for a parade march through the city. The
people had come out in masses to see us off, and
Third street from the Seven Corners to the lower
levee was lined with crowds of enthusiastic men,
women and children, who waved hats, handker-
chiefs and flags and greeted our passing column
with cheers, and smiles, and tears and blessings, that
at times drowned the gay music of the band and
broke up the r\^thmic tramp of our platoons in spite
of our efforts to be, or at least to appear, soldierh-.
None of us could then predict that of the thous-
and muskets, less than three hundred, and of the
thirty-six swords, onh' three should at last return
with the colors then so proudly floating over us.
The thought was, however, in erery heart that we
had taken our lives in our hands to be laid down
\vherever and whenever duty might call lor them.
The march ended at the lower levee, where we
re-embarked and proceeded down the river. Throngs
Minnesota Volunteer Infantry 1861-1865. 27
of loyal people greeted us at every landing, the
friends of the several companies having come from
their homes, some of them from interior towns, to
bid the boys a last good-by.
At LaCrosse we \vere transferred to the railroad
and arrived without noteworthy adventure at Chi-
cago on the morning of the 16th, and were marched
to and quartered in the "Wigwam," the large tem-
porary^ building where Abraham Lincoln had been
nominated for the presidency at the National Re-
publican Convention the year before.
Here the company officers \vere ordered to keep
the men strictly within the building until they
should be marched out again under arms. The
building v^^as large enough not to be crowded with
a thousand men, but not being intended for con-
tinuous habitation was destitute of certain conven-
iences, which are as necessary for soldiers as for
other human beings, and most of the companies had
to be marched out in the evening for exercise, etc.,
in the open streets, where the maneuvers greatly
astonished the spectators.
We spent the night in the Wigwam and marched
the next day to the Pittsburg and Fort Wayne R.
R. depot, and boarded a train for Pittsburg, where
we arrived in the afternoon of the 18th.
Here we were most hospitabh' received and
marched to a public hall, where a bountiful hot
supper was served by an association of loyal and
generous ladies, who personally attended the tables,
to which the soldiers did ample justice. This kind
reception, and others like it, were not lost upon the
soldiers. They remembered and talked of them
28 The Story of the Second Regiment
w^herever they went, and many a camp fire was
brightened b\' the memory of the kind words and
gracious and sympathetic attentions of loyal
women, to whom all Union soldiers ^vere as sons
and brothers.
Here our orders were changed from Washington,
D. C, to Kentucky, and on the 19th we embarked
on three small steamers, and after a delightful
voyage down the Ohio river, landed at Louisville
on the 22nd.
At his invitation, the writer accompanied Col.
Van Cleve to headquarters, where he reported the
arrival of the regiment to Gen. W. T. Sherman, then
commanding the Department of the Cumberland.
This was six da^'s after the famous conference at
Louisville bet\veen General Sherman and the Secre-
tary of War, at which the Secretary was so plainly
informed that if Kentucky was to be held for the
Union, troops and arms and equipage must be sent
there as well as to Virginia and Missouri, and the
chang^e at Pittsburo^ of our destination was one of
the immediate results of that conference. It was at
the time a great disappointment to us, but we did
not complain and soon ceased altogether to regret it.
General Sherman received us in an absent-minded
sort of way, walking back and forth in his office.
He asked a few disconnected questions, evidently
thinking of other things as well as of us, and ended
the brief interview by ordering us by rail that
evening to Lebanon Junction, thirty miles distant,
south, on the Louisville and Nashville R. R. We
were loaded on a train of open flat cars and spent
the night in a cold rain storm, making the trip at
Minnesota Volunteer Infantry 1861-1865. 29
about six miles per hour, stopping a while at every
side track, and occasionally where there was no
siding.
About four o'clock a. m. we disembarked and
stacked arms in a field near the Junction and stood
around in the soft mud until sunrise, to keep our-
selves awake that we might be ready to entertain
anv party of the enemv who might make us an early
morning call.
Here we relieved the 19th Illinois regiment, then
commanded by Colonel J. B. Turchin.
Sometime in the day, October 23rd, our baggage
and tents arrived on another train, which had
started with us, but in some inexplainable manner
had actualh' run slov^^er than we did. Our camp
was set in regulation style, in a field just within
the angle formed by the main and Lebanon branch
tracks, and at "retreat," camp guard was mounted
and we considered the war begun so far as we were
concerned.
We remained here several weeks, sending out de-
tachments to guard the railroad bridges in the vi-
cinit^^ and keeping up the round of guard and
picket duty, drill and instruction. "Reveille" was
sounded an hour before daylight, and we then had
to "stand to arms" until sunrise to guard against
a surprise by the enemy.
The camp ground was damp and unhealthy, and
in this tedious morning hour the fog settled over
us like a cold wet blanket. Our sick list increased
considerably until the ground was drained by deep
ditches between the rows of tents, and the practice
was adopted of serving every man at early "roll
30 The Story of the Second Regiment
call" a cup of hot coffee and a hard tack, which
kept him warm and cheerful until breakfast time.
Here the paymaster called upon us and squared
our accounts to the 31st of October, and here we
enjoyed our first Thanksgiving dinner as soldiers.
On the 15th of November, Gen. D. C. Buell as-
sumed the command at Louisville, and on the 2nd
of December organized the troops in Kentucky into
the "Army of the Ohio."
Gen. Geo. H. Thomas assumed command, on the
6th. of the First Division, comprised of the First,
Second and Third Brigades.
These were composed as follows :
First Brigade : Brig. Gen. Albia Schoepf, commanding.
33rd Reg. Indiana Volunteers, Col. John Coburn.
17th Reg. Ohio Volunteers, Col. J. M. Connell.
12th Reg. Kentucky Volunteers, Col. W. A. Hoskins.
38th Reg. Ohio Volunteers, Col. E. D. Bradley.
Second Brigade: Col. M. D. Manson, commanding.
4th Reg. Kentuck3' Volunteers, Col. S. S. Fry.
14th Reg. Ohio Volunteers, Col. J. B. Steedman.
10th Reg. Indiana Volunteers, Lieut. Col. W. S. Kise.
10th Reg. Kentucky Volunteers, Col. J. M. Harlan.
Third Brigade: Col. R. L. McCook, commanding.
18th Reg. United States Infantry, Col. H.B.Carrington.
2nd Reg. Minnesota Volunteers, Col. H.P.Van Cleve.
35th Reg. Ohio Volunteers, Col. F. Van Derveer.
9th Reg. Ohio Volunteers, Lieut. Col. G. Kammerling.
Unassigned, but later attached to First Division.
1st Reg. Kentucky Cavalry, Col. F. Wolford.
Battery "B" First Ohio Artillery, Capt. W. B. Stan-
dardt.
Battery "C" First Ohio Artillery, Capt. D. Kenny.
Battery " B " First Kentucky Artillery, Capt. Wetm ore.
A Batallion of Michigan Engineer troops, Lieut. Col.
K. A. Hunton.
Minnesota Volunteer Infantry 1861-1865. 31
On the 8th of December the 3rd Minnesota regi-
ment arrived to relieve iis at Lebanon Junction,
and the next day we went by rail thirty-seven miles,
to Lebanon, where Gen. Thomas had established
his headquarters.
Now, for the first time, we were brigaded with
other troops and had the opportunity to compare
our own with other regiments. The 9th Ohio,
whose Colonel (Robert L. McCook) was our bri-
gade comrnander, was composed entirely of Ger-
mans, few of whom could speak Enghsh. The regi-
ment had been enlisted at Cincinnati, and had seen
several months of active service, in West Virginia,
participating in the engagements more or less im-
portant, at Phillippi, Rich Mountain and Carnifex
Ferry. Their manual and tactics were those of the
German army, as manj^ of their officers had seen
service there. Naturally, with their experience in
actual war, they regarded us as comparatively
fresh and we modestly respected them as veterans,
intending, however, to stay with them in any con-
troversy^ we might have by and by with the com-
mon enemy.
The 35th Ohio was also our senior by several
months of service, mostly in Kentucky, but not
having been in any battle and using our language
and tactics, they did not claim nor were they con-
ceded any superiority.
Both these regiments were brigaded with ours
from this time until their muster out at the expi-
ration of three years of service, and we had
time and opportunity for close acquaintance and
32 The Story of the Second Regiment
comradeship, which we remember pleasantly after
these many years.
The 18th United States Regular Infantry- was
then one of the newly organized regiments of three
battalions of eight companies each. They held them-
selves somewhat apart from us volunteers, and be-
fore we had got fairly on the same plane with them
as soldiers, they were placed with other regular regi-
ments in a brigade b}' themselves, the 87th Indiana
taking their place in our brigade.
Here we came into the immediate presence of
Geo. H. Thomas, then a new Brigadier General of
Volunteers, with whom as our Division, Corps or
Army commander, we served continuously for the
next three vears, until the beginning of the "Grand
March to the Sea" in November, 1864.
Of him as a man, a soldier or a commander, no
man who has ever served with him has any words
except of respectful admiration.
We remained in camp at Lebanon about three
weeks, devoting the time mainly to battalion drill
and to general instruction in military duties. Our
camp ground was reasonably fit for the purpose,
the weather not unpleasant for the season, rations
were fully and regularh- issvied, and altogether we
fared better as soldiers than we knew or appreci-
ated at the time.
Our band had weW improved the long intervals
at Fort Snelling and Lebanon Junction, and our
parade-marches and dress parades and guard
mounts, duU' illustrated the "pomp and circum-
stance of war." Among the things, the importance
of which w^as to be better appreciated later, was
H. P. VAN CLEVE, Colonel.
July 22, 1861. to March 22, 1S61
Brig General, I'. S. V.
The Mill Springs Campaign. 33
the coeducation of the wagonens and the mules.
This was begun here and some progress made. The
earlier lessons afforded a good deal of entertainment
to those not engaged in them, but were sadly de-
moralizing to the wagoners. It has been stated
that no man ever broke a team of six green arm\'
mules without breaking his christian character, if
he had any, and the army chaplain who offered the
long standing reward of one hundred dollars to the
man w^ho should drive such a team for thirty days
without the use of profane language, did not have
to part with his money.
With all the comforts of the situation here, we
grew w^eary of mere preparation, and the announce-
ment that we were about to commence an active
campaign received a general and genuine welcome
in the camp.
CHAPTER III.
THE MILL SPRINGS CAMPAIGN.
On the morning of the 1st of January, 1862,
our brigade folded the tents, loaded the baggage
train, and, with bands playing and colors dis-
played, marched out on the Columbia "pike."
Thirteen wagons were allotted for the tents and
baggage of each regiment, and they were loaded
to their roofs. Each man ^vas expected to carry
his rifle and accoutrements, with forty rounds of
ball cartridges, knapsack with all his personal
34 The Story of the Second Regiment.
property, overcoat, blanket, canteen, and haversack
with three da^'s' rations in it, a load of forty to
fifty pounds.
We marched that day fourteen miles, and the
next, twelve miles, encamping near Campbells-
ville. Here we found that most of the men were
tired, sore-footed and hungry', and many of them
had lost their overcoats, blankets, or some other
part of their loads on the way. The roads were,
however, hard and smooth, and our wagons came
up in good season, so we made comfortable camps.
We remained here four days while the w^agon
trains went back to Lebanon and returned with
more rations and supplies, and on the 7th w^e
marched again with somewhat better preparation
than before; the men carrying more rations, and
less unnecessary stuff in their knapsacks, and made
twelve miles comfortabl3^
On the 8th we passed through Columbia, and
here leaving the ' ' pike ' ' we turned eastward on
the "dirt road." It immediateh" began to rain,
and before night the road was almost impassable.
The next ten days were spent alternateh' in short
but tedious marches in the mud and slush and
rain, and in waiting for the wagon trains to come
up, so about half the nights and days the troops,
without shelter, were lying in the woods or fields
along the roadside. This in mid-winter was a very
discouraging experience to the volunteers then on
their first campaign. Yet thej^ learned speedih' to
make themselves as comfortable as the circum-
stances permitted, and things were never so bad
that some fun could not be had.
The Mill Springs Campaign. 35
General Buell had issued an order that no pri-
vate property should be appropriated by the troops
without proper authority, and thus far the fuel
had been provided by the quartermaster, but one
evening we encamped in some open fields where
there w^as no cut wood or forest accessible. The
fields were however well fenced with dry rails and,
after some exasperating dela3% authority was ob-
tained to use in this emergency " only the top rail "
of the fence along the color line. The cheer}- camp
fires were soon blazing and we had plenty of fuel
all the night ; next morning the fence was entirely
gone. The company commanders were called to
account for its disappearance, but were unable to
find any man who took any but the "top rail."
As w^e passed through the country we found
usually only old men, women and children at
home, most of the able bodied citizens having
joined some regiment on one side or the other. In
some cases brothers had enlisted in opposing reg-
iments. Generallv the people at home were not
serioush' foraged upon or molested, but pigs and
geese occasionally did come into the camps and
were duly "mustered into the army."
On the 12th of Januar\^ we encamped about
noon near an old time "apple jack" still. It had
recentW been in operation and a considerable
quantity of the seductive product thereof was yet
in the rude building. This was -speedily appropri-
ated by the soldiers as "contraband of war," and
a night of uncommon hilarity in the camps resulted.
On the 17th of January the head of the column
arrived at Logan's Crossroads, nine miles north of
36 The Story of thk Second Regiment.
Zollicoffer's intrenched camp at Beech Grove and
seven miles west of Somerset, where the first
brigade, commanded by General Schoepf, was
posted. Beech Grove was a naturally good posi-
tion on the north bank of the Cumberland, on the
east side of Oak Creek at its junction with the
river. Mill Springs, by which name the campaign
and battle are known in our history, was on the
south bank of the Cumberland opposite Beech
Grove, and had no relation to the battle as far as
is known; neither had Fishing Creek, from which
the Confederates named the affair that took place
on the 19th at Logan's Crossroads. Here we
halted for the closing up of the column and to
await Schoepf's brigade, which was ordered to
join us.
The first and second East Tennessee (Union)
infantr}' regiments, under Brig. General Carter,
were temporarily attached to our division at this
time, also a battalion of Michigan Engineer troops.
On the 18th, of the forces present, the 2nd Minne-
sota, 9th Ohio and 12th Kentuck}^ with the En-
gineer battalion, were encamped around Thomas'
headquarters on the Columbia-Somerset road,
three quarters of a mile west of Logan's house.
At and near Logan's house were the 4th Kentucky,
10th Indiana and the 1st and 2nd East Tennessee,
the battalion of Wolford's Cavalry and two Ohio
batteries, Kenny's and Standart's ; Schoepf with
Wetmore's Kentucky battery, the 33rd Indiana
and 17th and 38th Ohio, were at Somerset; and
the 10th Kentucky and 14th Ohio were on the
road some miles back towards Columbia ; all these
The Mill Sprlngs Campaign. 37
forces joined us the afternoon or evening after the
battle, as did the 35th Ohio. The 18th regulars
were still further awaj^ and did not arrive till
several days afterwards. So we had present and
available for the battle seven regiments, two
battalions and two batteries. Only four regiments
and the battalion of cavalry were, however, engaged
seriously enough to have any casualties.
General Crittenden, the confederate commander,
in his report gives his order of march, naming in
his column of attack eight regiments, three battal-
ions and two batteries. All his regiments were
engaged in the battle and lost heavily on the field,
according to his official report and casualty list.
From a point midway between Thomas' head-
quarters and Logan's farm, w^here the Columbia-
Somerset road runs nearh^ east and west, a road
led in a south westerK' direction to the Cuml^erland
river, passing about half a mile south of head-
quarters, and is called the Jamestown road.
Another road led from Logan's farm southward to
Beech Grove and Mill Springs, and is called the
Mill Springs road in the reports. The battlefield
of the 19th was on both sides of this road, and
from half a mile to a mile south from the cross-
roads or junction at Logan's house. The ground
was undulating and mostly covered with thick
woods and brush, with some small open fields en-
closed by the usual rail fences of the countr}-.
About five o'clock in the afternoon of the 18th,
Company "A" went out on the Jamestown road
and assumed the "Grand guard" duty, posting
our reserve about half a mile south of our camp,
38 The Story of the Second Regiment.
with an advance post eighty rods further out and
with a Hne of pickets thence extending to the right
and to the left and connecting in the last direction
with those of the East Tennessee, and they with
those of the 10th Indiana, \vhich in a similar manner
guarded the Mill Springs road, their reserve post
being perhaps a mile east of ours across the fields.
We had hardly got into place when darkness
and rain were upon us; the darkest night and the
coldest and most pitiless and persistent rain we
ever knew. It was with great difficulty that the
pickets could be visited or relieved at all during
the night, and the cooking of supper or even
of coffee was, in the absence of shelter, out of
the question. Nothing happened to break the tedi-
ous monotony of the night, but it has often since
occurred to us, that if we had known that Critten-
den's forces had at midnight turned out of their
comfortable tents and dry blankets and for the
next six weary hours were sloshing along in the
mud and storm and darkness, we could have much
enjoyed the contemplation of their physical and
spiritual condition. It was always some comfort
to the soldier on such a night as this, to think
that his enemy over there, was at least as wet
and cold and wretched as he was himself.
Just at daybreak arms were taken and prep-
arations were being made to relieve the pickets, when
a musket shot, another, and then five or six more
in quick succession rang out with startling distinct-
ness over on the Mill Springs road, a mile or more
to our left and front. This was the first rebel shot
we had ever heard. At last the enemv I now we
The Mill Springs Campaign. 39
were going to have a battle. Our first thought was,
"they are making a feint on that road while they
come in force on ours," which was the widest
and best traveled one. Ever\^ man was keenh^
awake and alive with expectation, when again
on the Mill Springs road the firing broke out,
nearer than before, scattering at first, then thicker
and faster as the enemy's advance struck the
picket reserve. After a few minutes all was
still again at the front, but in the camps behind
us the long-roll was beating and the companies
were forming in hot haste, and presentW we heard
our regiment and the 9th Ohio moving off towards
Logan's farm.
Then the firing broke out again as the enemy
came up to the 10th Indiana and later on to the 4th
Kentucky, those regiments having hastily got into
position in the woods about half a mile in front of
their camp. Here the enemy were held for some
time and were compelled to bring up and deploy
their two brigiides for an attack in full force. In
the meantime the 2nd Minnesota and 9th Ohio
arrived, (nine companies of each,) and in good ord^r
were put into the fight under General Thomas'
personal direction, the 2nd taking the line first
occupied successively b}' the 10th and 4th, which
regiments were retired to replenish their ammuni-
tion, and the 9tli Ohio forming on its right; the
Mill Springs road dividing the two newh' arrived
regiments.
The new line was immediately advanced some
distance through the woods, guiding on the road.
The rain had now ceased but the air was loaded
4-0 The Story of the Second Regiment.
with mist and smoke, and the underbrush in our
part of the held was so thick that a man was
hardly visible a musket's length away. Suddenly
the 2nd's line came against a rail fence with an
open field in front and a line of the enemy's troops
were dimly seen through the mist some twenty or
thirty rods distant in the field. The firing com-
menced immediately and in a few minutes the
enemy's line, just mentioned, had disappeared.
It was in fact his second line, the first being liter-
alh' under the guns and noses of the 2nd regiment,
only the fence intervening. The sudden arrival of
the 2nd at this fence was a surprise to the rebel
20th Tennessee, which was already just arrived
there, and it was a surprise also to our boA^s to
discover, in the heat of the engagement, that the
opposite side of the fence was lined with recumbent
rebels. Here, as Col. R. L. McCook sa\\s in his
ofiicial report, "the contest was at first almost
hand-to-hand ; the enemy and the 2nd Minnesota
were poking their guns through the same fence."
This condition of things could not and did not
last long after our boys really discovered and got
after them ; many of the enemy were killed and
wounded there, but more after the}^ got up and
were trying to get away. Some remained and
surrendered. One lieutenant, as the firing ceased
and the smoke lifted, stood a few feet in front of
Company "I" of the 2nd and calmly faced his fate.
His men had disappeared and he was called on to
surrender. He made no reply but raising his revol-
ver fired into our ranks with deliberate aim, shoot-
ing Lieut. Stout through the body. Further parley
The Mill Springs Campaign. 41
was useless and he was shot dead where he stood.
He was voung Bailie Peyton, the son of a noble
sire, w^hose sword, presented by the citizens of New
Orleans for his gallant service in the Mexican war,
was here found on the dead body of his son. We
met his father later at his home near Gallatin,
Tennessee. He was one of the foremost Union men
of his state and it was an inexpressible grief to
him that his only son should have enlisted in the
Rebel cause. He said that his only comfort was,
in the reflection that he did not die as a coward.
The enemy in front of the 9th Ohio, sheltered by
some buildings and fences, obstinately maintained
their position and a bayonet charge, in w^hich part
of the 2nd joined, was finally ordered and made and
this finished the fight.
In the meantime, at our post on the Jamestown
road, we listened to the battle in a state of excite-
ment which I cannot attempt to describe.
As the regiments moved out of camp towards
the field, and the heavier volleys seemed to settle
the question that it was to be a battle over there
and not a feint, we (of Company A) had about
decided to abandon our post and join the regiment,
when the Lieut. Colonel commanding the Engineer
battalion rode up and said General Thomas had
left him in charge of all guards and picket details,
and ordered us to stack arms and remain where
we w^ere. His battalion came out a few minutes
later and halted near us. We begged him to
relieve us, but entreaty or argument availed nothing
with him until the final conflict, just described, had
fairly opened with a volley of musketry more
42 The Story of thl; Second Regiment.
terrible than before, and so long continued as to
leave no possible doubt. Then he conceded that
we were no longer needed at our post, and con-
sented that we should go to the field with the
reserve onU% leaving all the men out on the picket
line and advance post. So we started on a run
across the plowed fields in a direct line for the
battle. As we approached the woods w^e were
obliged to deflect somewhat to the left to find an
open w^ay, and finally got into the Mill Springs road
about a quarter of a mile north of the battle-
ground, just as the final charge was made. The
veiling of the charging regiments was, if possible,
more stimulating to us than the musketry had
been, but, in fact, we were nearly exhausted
ph\'sically when we turned southward in the
narrow winding road towards the field of battle.
Now^ we met the stragglers and skulkers and the
wounded. On the first stretcher was the body of
Lieut Stout, and one of the bearers was that
courtly gentleman and honored citizen, Mr. Charles
Scheffer, of St. Paul. He was then State Treasurer,
and had on the previous day taken from our regi-
ment the allotments of pa}- then authorized to be
paid to families or dependents at home. He had
gone out to the battle with the regiment and had
found this opportunit}^ to render kind service to
the wotmded men. As we approached the fighting
ground the trees were flecked with bullets and the
underbrush had been cut away as with a scythe,
the dead and wounded lay along the fence, on one
the blue, on the other the gi'ay ; further on the
enemy's dead were everywhere scattered across the
The Mill Springs Campaign. 43
open field, and lay in a windrow along the ridge
where the second line had stood. We halted a
moment where the body of General Zollicoffer lay
beside the wagon track. He had been shot through
the heart by Colonel Fr}^ of the 4th Kentucky,
early in the battle. The two ofiicers, each with an
aid, had met in the narrow winding roadway as
they were respectively getting their troops into
position in the woods on each side of it. All wore
waterproof coats or ponchos, and at first did not
recognize each other as enemies. As soon as they
did, revolvers were drawn ; Zollicofier's aid fired at
Col. Fry and got out of the way, leaving his chief
to fall by the return he had invited. The body had
been dragged out of the w^ay of passing artillery
and wagons, and lay by the fence, the face up-
turned to the sky and bespattered with mud from
the feet of marching men and horses. It was decently
cared for later, and, with that of Lieut. Bailie
Peyton, was sent through the lines to Nashville
for interment. We soon found our regiment and
joined it. The battle w^as over, and the mob of
demoralized fugitives in the distance were rapidly
getting out of sight.
Col. Van Cleve sent a messenger to relieve and
bring up our men left on the picket line, and, as
the advance was being resumed, gave vis the lead.
The pursuit was, however, tedious and uneventful.
Occasionally a few shots were exchanged with the
enem^^'s rear guard, and some exhausted or wounded
stragglers captured were all we had to enliven the
chase until we approached Moulden's hill, a high
ridge within a mile of and commanding the
44 The Story of the Second Regiment.
intrenched camp at Beech Grove. Here a show of
resistance was made, and General Thomas halted
and developed his forces in order of attack. The
advance up the easy slope of the hill was an
inspiring spectacle to us, but the enem}^ did not
remain to enjoy it. When our skirmish line reached
the crest of the ridge their rear guard was seen in
full retreat again, and soon disappeared within
their camp. Our batteries were brought up, and
one of them, posted on the left near the river,
practised a while with shell on a little steamer
crossing and recrossing the stream at a point
below the camp, provoking a reply from the
enemy's guns which, however, did us no harm.
The sun was yet an hour high and, as it after-
wards appeared, an immediate advance upon the
camp would have met with no formidable organized
resistance, though it was well protected by breast-
works, abbattis and entanglements. Some val-
uable lives would, however, have been lost in an
assault at that time, and probably most of the
enemy would have escaped, as they afterwards
did, by dispersion, but without immediately cross-
ing the river. The truth, not then known, but
generally suspected, was that the demoralized
rebels were crossing the Cumberland as fast as they
could, and most of the men got over before morning.
After a brief survey' of the situation as far as it
was then to be seen, General Thomas bivouacked
his troops in line of battle where they were first
halted ; and during the evening the other regiments
of his command which had not been in the battle,
came up, except the 18th regulars. The night was
The Mill Springs Campaign. 45
clear and cold, and the men of Company "A" had
had no food or rest during the thirty hours past,
and none of the regiments had eaten during the
day. The exposure to the storm during the night,
the excitement and physical exhaustion of the
morning's wild race across the soft ploughed field,
of the battle and the day's tramp, began to tell.
Rations had been spoiled in the haversacks b}^
the rain, or left behind in the morning, and not
until nine or ten o'clock in the evening, when the
trains came up, was anything procurable to eat.
That night's exposure broke down many strong
men in our regiment who never recovered for duty.
Next morning our regiment marched into the
camp of the 20th Tennessee, within the intrench-
ments, and filed off into the compan\^ streets just
as we would have done in our own. Apparentlv
the 20tli men had not visited their tents at all
since they had left them at midnight to attack us;
provisions, clothing, blankets and all the comforts
that accumulate about a soldier during a month
in camp, were here in profusion. All the camps
were left by the enemy's regiments in like manner,
the tents standing and officers' baggage and per-
sonal effects, and supplies of all sorts, in hospitable
abandonment. All the artillery, except one gun
left back mired in the mud, was found fully horsed
and standing in the narrow roadway leading down
into the valley from the camp ; the leading gun
had locked a wheel on a small tree, and the whole
train had been then and there abandoned ; more
than a thousand horses and mules were frolicking
cibout the valley, helping themselves to forage from
46 The Story of the Second Regiment.
the unguarded piles. A few wagons hastil}^ loaded
with baggage were found on the steamboat land-
ing, awaiting a crossing that was not to be made.
A few sick, wounded and skulkers were added to
our list of prisoners, but the arm}' that had a few
hours before marched out in that midnight storm
to surprise "old Pap Thomas," was now scattered
all over the country south of the Cumberland,
ever\' man getting away as fast and as far as he
could. Probably not many of those men were ever
brought together again as organized regiments ;
they certainly spread dismay and consternation all
over the country w^herever they went, and probably
thus contributed much to succeeding Union victories
in Tennessee.
The little steamer, which had been for twelve
hours so busily engaged in crossing the stampeded
rebels, was set on fire by the last to cross, and
drifted down the river and out of sight.
Schoepf's brigade was sent on the 21st across
the river to pursue the enemy, but there w^as no
enemy to pursue and he returned. On the same
day we returned to our camp at Logan's cross-
roads, and the 22nd was spent in issuing supplies.
The dead of both armies were buried on the 20th
and 21st, and the wounded were cared for as well
as the circumstances permitted.
On the 23rd we marched to Somerset, and
thence southward about two miles. Our trains
were mired in the road near Fishing Creek, about
three miles from Logan's, and we spent a miser-
able night without shelter. On the 24th we en-
camped in a pleasant field on the north bank of
The Mii.i. Springs Campaign. 47
the Cumberland river, where we inade ourselves
comfortable for a few days. Meantime our sick
and wounded men were distributed in all the
available buildings in and near Somerset, and in
these temporary hospitals were cared for as well
as could be under the circumstances. Many a
brave fellow who, in anticipation of a battle had
cheerfully endured the hardships of the march, now^
succumbed. The sick largel3^ outnumbered the
wounded, and our permanent loss from disease
originating or developed in this campaign was
more than 15 per cent, of the total force, while
the killed and wounded was less than 7V2 per cent,
of the troops engaged, and many of the wounded
were onW temporarily disabled. Of the campaign
it might be said that the march would have been
a severe one even for veterans.
The battle was on both sides desperately con-
tested while it lasted, but was soon over, and the
victor}' on the field was decisive and complete.
Among the trophies was a flag of the Fifteenth
Mississippi, captured b\' the Second Minnesota,
and by General Thomas forwarded to the war
department. (Appendix No. 8.)
This flag is among those now aw^aiting the
direction of Congress and, let it be hoped, of the
Grand Army of the Republic, as to their final dis-
position.
Another trophy that now reposes in the goodly
compan\' of war worn flags, in the Adjutant Gen-
eral's oflice at the capitol of Minnesota, is a hand-
some banner with the inscription: "Mill Springs,
"Jan'y 19, 1862, 2nd Reg't Minn. Vol. Inf'y.
48 The Storv of the Second Regiment.
" Presented in behalf of the Loyal Ladies of Louisville,
"Ky." This was in comnienioration of this battle
and victory; which redeemed Kentiick}' to the Union
of States, not to be seriously or permanentl}^ oc-
cupied by the Confederates again during the war.
The casualties of the nine companies engaged of
our regiment were 12 killed and 33 wounded.
In the four regiments (and Wolford's battalion)
engaged, the Union loss was 4-0 killed and 207
wounded. Total casualties 247. The Confederate
loss was stated by General Crittenden at 126
killed, 309 wounded and 99 missing, total 534;
but General Thomas reports the Confederate dead,
buried by our troops, at 192 and the unw^ounded
prisoners at 89, which with the 309 wounded and
10 missing, not captured, would make the Confed-
erate loss 600 ; under the circumstances Thomas
must be conceded to be the better authorit}' as to
the dead and prisoners. On the other hand, Crit-
tenden, who could have had no knowledge of the
Union loss, estimates it at 700, and says "It was
"larger than mine from the fact that m^^ regiments
"on the left after having been first driven back fired
"from the cover of woods and fences upon a large
"number advancing upon them through an open
"field, inflicting heavy loss and sustaining but little."
He had, in fact, more than twice as many men
engaged as we did, and his loss on the field was to
ours about in the same proportion ; so if it were
or were not true that his troops were the better
sheltered the fire of our men must have been the
better directed and delivered. [Appendix Nos. 9,
10, 11 and 12.)
Mill Springs to Shiloh. 49
CHAPTER IV.
MILL SPRINGS TO SHILOH.
On the 10th of February, we I'olded our tents
again and began the return march to Louisville.
In the afternoon -we camped a mile north of Somer-
set, where we remained the next day and said
"good-by" to many of our comrades in the hos-
pitals who were too sick or too badly wounded to
be moved. Here it rained and snowed alternately,
as it did in fact, nearly every da}^ of the march to
the Ohio river. The roads were almost impassable
and the companies were ordered each to march
with its wagon to help it along as it often became
necessary to do.
On the 14th we arrived at Crab Orchard where
we struck the "pike," as macadamized roads are
always called in that country, and thenceforward
the march was less tedious, though the weather
did not much improve.
On the 15th we passed through Stanford and
on the 16th arrived at Danville where we rested one
day while it rained.
On the 18th made a long march, passing through
Perryville, halting there only long enough to observe
the academy with its garrison of bright-eyed
school-girls, and encamped within two or three
miles of Lebanon.
On the 19th we marched all day in a drenching
rain-storm and encamped on the farm of Dr. Jackson,
a brother of the man who killed Col. Ellsworth at
50 The Story of the Second Regiment.
Alexandria, Va., in the summer of 1861. The
doctor was absent under military arrest, but his
hospitality was freely drawn upon by the tired,
wet and hungry soldiers, who left nothing there
next morning that could be drunk, eaten or carried
aw^ay.
On the 24th we passed through Bardstown and
on the 25th arrived at Louisville about 3 p. m., and
were received with most enthusiastic welcome. The
sidewalks were full of loyal men and flags were
waved to us from windows and porches as we gaWy
marched the principal streets towards the river.
At the National Hotel the regiment was halted and
faced to the front while a deputation of the "Loyal
Ladies of Louisville," came out and presented the
beautiful silk banner referred to in a preceding
chapter. After a brief response by Col. Van Cleve
our march was resumed and we w^ent on board
the large steamer "Jacob Strader" at the levee.
Meantime on the 6th, Fort Henr^^, and on the
16th, Fort Donelson, had been captured and the
way was now open to Nashville by the Ohio and
Cumberland rivers.
On the 26th our baggage, mules and wagons
were taken aboard at Portland, just below the falls
and three miles from Louisville levee, and we pro-
ceeded down the river, very glad of the change from
marching to sailing.
On the 28th we arrived at Smithfield, where we
entered the Cumberland and passed Fort Donelson
on the 1st of March and Clarksville on the 2nd,
arriving at Nashville next da3^ On the 4th we dis-
embarked and encamped about three miles out ol"
Mill Springs to Shiloh. 51
the city on the "Granny White Pike." Here we had
a pleasant and health}' camp and tine spring-
weather. Ample supplies of clothing, rations and
ammunition were issued and accumulated, and a
good many of our sick and slightly wounded, who
had been left behind, now joined us for duty.
Meantime arrangements had been made for a
junction of Buell's and Halleck's forces to be made
near the great bend of the Tennessee river ; Savan-
nah, on the right bank, being linalh^ designated by
Gen. Halleck as the point.
On the 16th of March, McCook's division of
Buell's army commenced the march towards the
appointed rendezvous, followed in order, one day
apart, by those of Nelson, Crittenden, Wood and
Thomas. Our division (Thomas' ) having had a
battle already, was in this new^ campaign assigned
to the rear of the column, and marched on the
20th, passing through the city and out on the
Franklin pike some eight or ten miles. On the
21st we passed through Franklin and camped a
few miles south of the village, remaining there the
22nd. On the 23rd we moved up two or three
miles to Spring Hill, and here we found the road
ahead of us occupied by the camps and trains of
the preceding divisions.
The bridge over Duck River at Columbia had
been destroyed. The river was at flood height,
no pontoons or other bridge material was avail-
able, and we all waited six days for the water to
subside.
On the 29th a bridge was improvised, and a
ford, deep and rapid, but practicable with care,
52 The Story of the Second Regiment.
was found, and the crossing was commenced. It
was slow and tedious work, and it was not until
the 2nd of April that ours, the rear division, had
a clear way to proceed. On the 4-th the road
ahead of us was so obstructed with the trains of
the other divisions that we remained in camp ; it
was raining heavily all day and night.
On this day General Grant telegraphed in reply
to Nelson's message of the 3rd that he could be at
Savannah with his division on the 5th, that he
(Nelson) need not hasten his march, as transports
to convey him to Pittsburg Landing would not
be ready before the 8th. ( Van Home's History,
Army of Cumberland, Vol. 1, page 103.)
The rain ceased on the 5th, and we marched
about twelve miles, keeping close up to the column
leading us. Next day, the 6th, the troops ahead
of us seemed to be showing more speed, and we
began to pass the v^agon trains as we overtook
them, instead of keeping behind them as we had
been doing; so, notwithstanding the bad condition
of the roads and frequent detours to pass around
the stalled wagon trains, we marched twenty-two
miles before dark. During the afternoon, whenever
we halted to rest, we could hear the rumbling of
the cannonade in the distant west, and we knew
that a great battle was in progress. About sunset
it commenced to rain again, and speedily grew so
dark that a man in the column could scarcely see
his file leader within arm's reach. Still we tramped
on, tired, cold, wet and hungry, until about eleven
o'clock, when our brigade was turned into a soft
plow^ed cotton field, to spend the rest of the night.
Mill Springs to Shiloh. 58
The situation here would have been utterly forlorn
had it not been enlivened by the order at midnight
to "cook three days' rations and be ready to
march at 4- o'clock a. m." As it rained all night,
the fence rails were laid in the mud for bedding or
"standing room"; no other fuel was available,
and the rations were in the wagons, miles behind
us. So the cooking was omitted, but we were
ready and glad to march at daybreak.
The halts on the 7th were few and short, but
our progress, in the wretched condition of the
road, was slow and tedious, though -we marched
towards the sound of the guns all day. We
arrived at Savannah in the afternoon of the 8th,
to spend another night in the rain without shelter,
but had time before dark to select a grass field
for our bivouac and get rails and other firewood
to cook and sleep by. Here we heard that the
field of Shiloh had been won and was held by our
Ihiion forces, so we rested contentedly. Next morn-
ing, April 9th, steamers came to Savannah for us,
and embarking, we were taken up to Pittsburg
Landing, and at noon stacked arms and rested on
the battle field. The weather had cleared u]), and
though our wagons and tents did not arrive for
several days, we were comfortable enough without
them. The burial of the dead and collection of the
wounded now fully occupied a large portion of our
men for two or three days.
The official reports state the Union loss at 1,754
killed, 8,408 wounded and 2,885 captured or miss-
ing; and the Confederate loss at 1,728 killed,
8,012 wounded and 959 missing. Of the missing
54- The Story of the Second Regiment.
many were undoubtedly killed or wounded ; so we
had to perform the burial of about 4,000 men,
gathering them from every part of the battle field.
Some lay where they had first fallen, others lived
long enough to crawl to some near-by thicket or
gully, for protection or for water; some lay in
attitudes of rest, their faces showing nothing of
suffering or fear, others had evidently died in great
asTonv. Some were identified bv comrades, and of
such the graves were rudely marked ; but man}^ of
our dead and nearly all the Confederates were un-
known and unrecognized. They were laid side by
side in long shallow pits and were covered, a
hundred or more, in one grave. Many of the
wounded had been able to find their own way to
the field hospitals, but several thousand of them
were taken up on the field and carried off on
stretchers or in ambulances. Some of these were
not found until two or three days after the battle.
All of this was very sad business; none who
participated in it or witnessed it, will ever forget it.
Men can, in the enthusiasm and excitement of
battle, see and take part in the murderous work
without realizing how horrible it is, but to go over
the field the day afterwards, and in cool blood to
gather up the mangled and suffering victims, gives
one a life-long impression of the cruelty of war
and of its pitiful waste of human life.
After two or three days of this we moved out
from the battle field towards Corinth five or six
miles, and when our trains arrived established our-
selves in camp again, in a pleasant gravelly field
with shade and spring water.
Mill Springs to Shiloh. 55
Here Col. Van Cleve was promoted to Brigadier
General and mustered out of the regiment, Lieut.
Col. George was promoted to Colonel, Maj. Wilkin
to Lieutenant Colonel and Capt. Bishop to Major;
all their commissions dated March 21st, 1862.
Gen. Thomas having been assigned to command
a corps of several divisions, Brig. Gen. T. W.
Sherman assumed command vice Thomas of our
division, and Lietit. Col. Wilkin was detailed as
Inspector General at his headquarters. He was on
detached service thereafter most of the time until
he was mustered out of the regiment August 26th,
1862, to become Colonel of the 9th Minnesota
volunteers.
At this camjD our band was mustered out on the
24th of April, by order of Gen. Buell, and the men
went home leaving most of their instruments there
in the woods. The band had been an agreeable
and much appreciated institution in our permanent
camps, but in the hard marches of a long campaign
the members got scattered and lost, and of late we
had had but little music from them. They were
good musicians, but did not take kindly to actual
soldiering, and were no doubt quite willing to quit
there.
Gen. Halleck arrived at Shiloh on the 11th of
April, and after reorganizing the two armies of Buell
and Grant and reinforcing them by the arm}^ of the
Mississippi, under Pope, and by a division from
Missouri and one from Arkansas, commenced the
"seige of Corinth." A general advance and intrench-
ment of the Union lines about once a week, with
almost daily skirmishing during the intervals,
56 The Stokv of the Second Regiment.
brought us at the end of May into such jSosition
that Corinth had to be defended or evacuated. A
volley of explosions and a dense cloud of smoke
in our front at daybreak on the 30th announced the
final departure of the Confederate army, which
vvath persistence and impudence to be admired had
held our greatly superior force at bay for nearly two
months. Our lines were immediateh' advanced, but
in places met with vigorous resistance from the
enemy's picket line, which had been left in position.
These men were mostly captured and were im-
mensely disgusted to learn that theA^ had been
abandoned to such a fate. This narrative is not the
place to criticize general operations of armies, but
it ma}' truthfully and properly be said, that we
marched into the vacated and desolate streets of
Corinth that day with a feeling of disgust and
humiliation at the escape of the enemy that we
ought to have captured, or at least have broken
up and defeated.
A show of pursuit had to be made, and we
marched on after the retreating enemy for several
days, passing through Danville and Rienzi. On the
6th our regiment "corduroyed" about four miles
of swampy road, by transferring the rail fences
from both sides to the centre of the track, where
they were speedily sunk out of sight by the artil-
lery and heavily loaded supply wagons.
On the 8th we halted at Boonville, Aliss., where
we remained three days. Returning we reached
our old camp near Corinth on the 13th, having
been out 14 days without tents or baggage, and
so far as we could see had accomplished nothing.
Corinth to Louisville. 57
Next dav we moved three miles east from
Corinth, where we got several days rest, on Iresh
clean ground. Some reorganization had been going
on, however, in our absence, and we found Gen.
Thomas in command again of our division, and
preparations were soon completed for a new cam-
paign.
CHAPTER V.
CORINTH TO LOUISVILLE.
Buell's army had been projected eastward, with
Chattanooga and East Tennessee as the apparent
objectives, and the divisions of McCook, Crittenden
and Nelson were alread}^ well advanced in that
direction, when, on the 22nd of June, our brigade
broke camp and commenced the march along the
Memphis and Charleston railroad, repairing it as
we went along, reaching luka Springs on the 25th.
The other two brigades of our division were
several days' march in advance of us, and, as we
moved eastward, troops from Grant's army fol-
lowed, and were stationed in detachments to
guard the railroad bridges left behind us.
At luka we were paid off for two months,
chieflv in the then new postal currency, which we
had not before seen. Col. George here left us on
"sick leave."
On the 27th our march eastward was resumed,
and our regiment arrived on the 29th at Tuscum-
bia, Ala. We encamped in an open field, just at
58* The Story of the Second Regiment.
the edge of the village, and near a remarkably
copious spring of pure water. Here Gen. Thomas'
division was assembled again, and on the 4th of
July we had a national salute from the three bat-
teries and a grand parade of twelve regiments,
after which some appropriate and patriotic ad-
dresses were made by Gov. Alex. Ramsey, of Min-
nesota, Gens. Steedman and McCook, and perhaps
others.
Gov. Ramse^^'s visit at this time and place,
though brief, gave him opportunity to see and
compare the 2nd Minnesota regiment with those
from other states, and he was, as he said, quite
satisfied with our representation of the state.
Finding ourselves located here for some consid-
erable time, our camp was put in good order and
made comfortable, and the usual course of company
and battalion drill and instruction was instituted.
The "company musicians," who in presence of the
"band" had been quite overlooked, if not forgot-
ten, were now hunted up and investigated. Those
who were not in fact musicians were exchanged in
their companies for other men who w^ere, or could
become such; a "principal musician" was appoint-
ed, bugles and fifes and drums were supplied to
them, and the same discipline applied to them that
prevailed with the other men of the regiment. A
few weeks of faithful instruction and practice made
them quite proficient in martial music, and the
"busfle band" of the 2nd Minnesota received a
gfood deal of attention and commendation from
the other regiments, and was much appreciated by
our own men.
Corinth to Louisvili.?:. 59
On the 26ih of July our pleasant camp here was
broken up, and we crossed the Tennessee river to
Florence. We were told that Gen. Andrew Jackson
had crossed the river here just fifty years before,
on his wa}' to New Orleans, in 1812. The next
day being Sunday, the usual inspection of troops
was had, and this over, a good manj^ officers and
enlisted men of the several regiments availed them-
selves of the opportunity to attend divine service.
The Presbyterian church was well filled, the usual
congregation of resident w^omen and children oc-
cupying perhaps one third of the seats. The
uniformed visitors were courteously received and
ushered in, mingling with the regular attendants
wherever there might be room. The opening
services were of the usual character, and the sing-
ing v^as heartil}^ joined in by the soldiers; the
scripture readings were attentively listened to, and
all heads were reverently bowed when the vener-
able minister said "let us pray." The prayer, we
were afterwards told, w^as the formal one prescribed
by the Presbyterian church authority of the South,
and contained an invocation of the divine blessing
upon the "President .of the Confederate States and
"upon all in authority under him," and upon the
armies of the Confederate States, and a direct and
earnest appeal that confusion and defeat might
overwhelm their eneinies, who had invaded their
soil and threatened their institutions and their
liberties. This had not been generally expected by
the visitors, and it produced at the instant quite
an appreciable commotion. A. variet}' of ejacula-
tions, not in the usual line of liturgical responses,
60 The Story of the Second Regiment.
were heard in various parts of the house, and some
got up and walked out to vent their indignation
in the open air. Most of us remained, however,
to see the services throtigh. The prayer ended, the
sermon began; a simple, earnest, well composed
and well delivered discourse, interesting, edifying
and every way unexceptional. The preacher was
himself the personification of christian grace and
dignity in the pulpit, and we were soon in the
mood to ignore, if we could not forgive or forget,
the ofi^'ensive prayer. He had probably half com-
pleted his discourse when the tramp of marching
men was heard coming down the main aisle, and
a squad of the provost guard "halted" and
"fronted" at the altar before the minister. A
colonel of infantry led the detachment, and now
he interrupted the preacher, charged him with
insulting the uniform of the United States and
those who wore it, in addressing a disloyal peti-
tion to the Almighty in their presence, and
commanded him to come down and surrender to
arrest. The minister gracefully bowed in compli-
ance, and, closing his sermon book, came down
and said he was "at your service, sir." Now the
ladies interposed, some with tears and pleadings,
and some with sneers and taunts at the imposing
show of armed men in a peaceful church where
only women and children were present to protest,
and some fainted, while the colonel marched his
guard and prisoner out and to headquarters. The
women then appealed to those of us who remained.
Thev were assured that their pastor was not led
out to be shot, and that probably no physical
Corinth to Louisville. 61
harm would be done to him, and as soon as we
could without rudeness, we withdrew to discuss in
our camp the experiences and events of the morn-
ing. The propriety of the arrest, under the circum-
stances, was then hotly debated among those who
were present, and the discussion has been renewed
at every opportunity since. It still remains as one
of the questions left unsettled at the close of the
war. The prisoner was sent North under arrest,
but what charges were formally preferred, or what,
if any, trial or punishment he may have had, was
never known to us.
On Tuesday, the 29th of July, we marched again
eastward ; the weather was hot and the road
dusty, but there seemed to be no urgent haste,
and our progress was leisurely and comfortable.
The great fields, erewhile in cotton, were now all
in corn, and afforded plenty of roasting ears for
the soldiers and forage for the mules. The darkies
came in troops from every plantation as we passed,
and joined the "Lincum Sogers," bringing horses,
mules, cattle, pigs, poultry, bedding and everything
else they could carry. They had apparently just
begun to realize what the war meant to them,
and were quite read\^ to improve the opportunity
of going out from bondage, and of despoiling their
old masters as they went.
As we approached Athens we got a mail from
the North, and in it some one received a copy of the
song, then just published, entitled, "Kingdom
Comin'." Adjt. S. P. Jennison sang it in camp
that evening in his unctions and inimitable style,
while the men of the regiment joined in as they
62 The Story of the Second Regiment.
learned the chorus, and a crowd of black faces
grinning with delight surrounded them, taking in
the spirit of the words and music, so appropriate
to the situation at the time. In a day or two
everybod}' knew and was singing it, and the
darkies would have a circus over it ever}' evening,
keeping the song going with original and grotesque
variations until they were suppressed b}' the camp
guard at "taps."
On the 3rd of August we marched through
Athens, Tenn. This was a lovely village, and had
been noted for being the last place in the state to
haul down the Union flag. The inhabitants, how-
ever, had been disgracefully plundered by Turchin's
brigade of Union soldiers a short time before our
arrival, and the\' regarded our approach with
some apprehension, probably; for which they were
to be excused. They were not in an^- wa}- molested
or inconvenienced b\' our presence, except from the
desertion of those servants who had not already
left them.
On Monday, the 5th, our brigade commander,
Gen. Robert L. McCook, was murdered by a gang of
sruerillas. He was sick when he left Tuscumbia, and
during the whole march was unable to sit up or be
dressed. He had a bed made in an ambulance, in
which it was his custom to ride far enough in ad-
vance of the troops to avoid the dust which alwa\'s
enveloped the marching column. On this da^' the
road was narrow and sinuous, with a thick growth
of small trees on each side. His ambulance, at-
tended b}^ two or three staff officers, was perhaps
half a mile ahead of the column, in which the 35th
Corinth to Louisville. 63
Ohio was the leading regiment. Suddenly a party
of horsemen appeared in the road before him,
and the ambulance was immediately turned and
started back on the run. The party pursued
with 3^ells and firing of revolvers, and, riding up
on each side, shot him through the bod\'. The
horses were frightened and beyond the control of
the driver, who said the General had ordered him
to stop before the fatal shot was fired. The team
was forced into the thicket and the staff officers,
Capts. Brooke and Miller, were captured and
hurried away. The head of the column soon
arrived, and the General was taken to the nearest
house, while the brigade encamped around him.
We had no cavalry, and the guerillas could not be
overtaken. The men of the 9th Ohio (McCook's
own regiment) were wild with rage, and in revenge
burned ever^^ building in the neighborhood, presum-
ing that the murderers were residents of the vicin-
ity, as they probably v^ere.
The General died next day and the march was
at once resumed. Col. Ferdinand Van Derveer
assumed command of the brigade, which he verj'
ably administered until the expiration of his term
of service, about two years later.
On the 7th of August we arrived at Winchester,
Tenn., where we remained twelve days.
About this time Company "C," of the 3rd Min-
nesota regiment, commanded by Capt. Mills, was
attached to the 2nd regiment. This company was
on detached duty when its regiment was surrend-
ered at Murfreesboro, July 13, 1862, and pending
the exchange and return of their comrades was sent
04 The Story of the Second Regiment.
to us for duty. It was a fine company of soldiers,
and remained with us several weeks, leaving us at
Louisville on the 30th of September, for Minnesota,
On the 19th of August we moved from Win-
chester to Decherd, and thence by short marches
and intermediate halts of one to three days to
Pelham Gap, thus consuming the time to August
31st, while Bragg's army were making their way
across the mountains and around our left flank
towards Nashville.
During these days we got news of the Indian
outbreak and massacre in Minnesota, which cre-
ated much apprehension and excitement, as many of
our men had families and friends in the threatened
frontier counties. Lieut. Col. Alex. Wilkin was on
the 26th of August appointed Colonel of the 9th
Minnesota regiment, and Maj. J. W. Bishop was
commissioned Lieutenant Colonel, and Capt. J. B.
Davis, of Company "F," Major of the 2nd Minne-
sota from the same date. Adjt. S. P. Jennison,
about the same time, was appointed Lieutenant
Colonel of the 10th Minnesota regiment, and Lieut.
Charles F. Mej^er took the vacated place as Adju-
tant of the 2nd.
On the 1st of September we marched to Man-
chester, and our wagon trains with tents and bag-
gage having been sent via Murfreesboro to Nash-
ville, we encamped for the night in the fair-ground
buildings. Next day resumed the march towards
Murfreesboro, arriving there on the 4th. On the
3rd we encamped early in the day^ and sent details
into a large melon field near b\% who captured
Corinth to Louisville. 65
several hundred large, fine, luscious watermelons
which, after our hot and dusty march, were much
relished.
Pursuing our northward march we arrived at
Nashville on the 7th and encamped in the edge of
the city. Most of our army had already crossed
the Cumberland, but it was given out that our
brigade should remain at Nashville, and we did for
a week, while our divisions north of the river were
watching Bragg's movements. By the 14th his
army w^as all across the Cumberland, at points
higher up the river and further north than Nash-
ville, and the race for Louisville began. Our brigade
left Nashville on the 14th and crossing the river
encamped just north of Edgefield. We had received
five days rations of flour, coffee and sugar only, no
clothing or shoes, which were especially needed. In
the next three days we marched on the hard, dusty
pike seventy miles to Bowling Green. Here, on the
18th, more rations of flour w^ere issued, and we
crossed the Barren river, in which we found the first
supply of drinkable water since leaving the Cum-
berland. On the 19th we marched twenty-five miles,
and on the 20th overtook our other divisions,
and passing through their camps, came up to
the enemy's rear picket line near Cave City.
Here we extended our line of battle to right
and left, and posted our picket line confront-
ing theirs. This was the seventh day of the march
which was without a parallel in our experience
thus far. It was the drj- season of the year, and in
this part of Kentucky there was no living water,
except the Barren river, between the Green and
66 The Story of the Second Regiment.
Cumberland rivers. The farmers had depended for
a scanty supply on the "sink-holes," which were
saucer-like depressions in the fields, with cla}' sub-
soil bottoms, which filled with water in winter and
spring, but at this season were nearly exhausted by
evaporation. Then Bragg's army was ahead of us,
and the}' made it their business to enrich the alread\'
viscid water with dead mules and camp oft'al of all
sorts, so it could not be drunk and could hardly be
used even to mix our "dough gods." These were
made by moistening our flour on a rock with water,
and after pounding it into a tough dough, it was
spun into a long roll, about an inch in diameter,
and wound spirally around a ramrod and so baked
at the camp fire. These, with scanty rations of
bacon, constituted a decidedl}- thin diet for the hard
service required of us. We had no tents or cook-
ing utensils or baggage of any sort except such as
were carried on pack mules or on the men's backs,
and even these had become sadly deficient, as we
had not been able to get any supplies at Nashville.
Occasionally we got apples or peaches along the
road, but generall}^ the trees were cleaned by the
troops ahead of us.
On this occasion, however, we found in our
immediate front a big apple orchard, the trees all
loaded with juicy fruit. The enemy's picket line
was along the fence, on the further side, and their
camps not far be\'ond. Our picket line was estab-
lished along the fence on our side of the orchard,
which was perhaps eighty rods across. Our men
began to get over the fence and gather the apples,
and the enemy's pickets fired at them ; our pickets
Corinth to Louisville. 67
in turn would not let the thirsty rebels get any
apples out of their side of the orchard. The situa-
tion speedily became known in the camps, and our
picket line was in a few minutes reinforced by
several hundred of the boys, who "straggled" out
there with their guns, and presently our line was
advanced with a rush to the further side of the
orchard. The enemy's pickets resisted actively, but
retired just before our line reached them. They
made an effort to regain their fence, but our boys
wouldn't give it up. The advance troops in both
armies got under arms upon hearing the racket,
but the affair was probably reported to the gen-
erals as a "picket skirmish" of no consequence,
and all became quiet again, and our boys had the
run of the orchard that night. Several of the men
were wounded, but none killed, in the skirmish,
which was entirely an affair of the enlisted men.
It looked at one time, however, as though a
general fight might grow out of it right there and
then, and we were all more than willing to have
it so.
This evening we got orders to cook three days'
rations and prepare for a battle which would
probably take place on the next day.
The enemy, however, moved on earl}^ next
morning, and the foot race began again. Our
division remained in camp while the others passed
on and took the road ahead of us. On the 22nd
we moved camp about two miles to a place near
Cave City, where, at the bottom of a natural
rock}^ pit, about a hundred feet deep, an under-
ground stream of pure water came to the light.
68 The Story of thh Second Regiment.
A steep path and steps led down to it, and all day
it was alive with soldiers, each laden wath as
many canteens as he could carr}'. The boys spent
the day mainly in filling tip like camels with that
water, in preparation for resuming the march.
On the 23rd we started again, crossing Green
river about noon, and camped on Bacon's Creek
after a march of twenty miles. On the 24'th we
started at daybreak and marched fast all da^-,
making thirty miles, and halted for the night four
or five miles north of Elizabethtown.
The race w^as now telling on the footsore rebels,
also, and during that and the previous da\' we
passed their exhausted stragglers to the number of
several hundred, leaving them to be gathered up
as prisoners by our rear guard. Bragg's army
was, however, ahead of us, and within one or
t%vo days' march of Louisville. Next day we left
the railroad and parallel pike and went straight
to the Ohio river, at the mouth of the Salt river,
making the tw^enty miles in less than seven hours,
and reaching the river bank about noon, a tired,
hungrv, ragged, foot-sore crowd. "Thank God for
the Ohio river and hard tack I" exclaimed the
champion grumbler of the regiment, "I'll never
complain again'." Here were steamers loaded with
rations, clothing and shoes, and waiting to carry
us to Louisville, about thirty miles up the river.
With little ceremonj^ the boxes of hard bread and
bacon w'cre rolled ashore and broken open, and,
while the steamers were being loaded and depart-
ing with other troops, our brigade rested and re-
freshed and waited our time. Next davwe embarked
The Perryville Campaign. 69
also, and soon after noon were at Louisville,
where we found most of Buell's army en-
camped around and in defence of the city. The
next four days were occupied in resupplying the
troops with clothing, rations, ammunition and
equipment, in preparation for a new and offensive
campaign for the recovery and reoccupation of
Kentucky and Tennessee.
During this time orders came from the w^ar
department relieving Gen. Buell, and assigning the
command to Gen. Thomas; these orders were sus-
pended by request of Gen. Thomas, and were never
put into effect.
CHAPTER VI.
THE PERRYVILLE CAMPAIGN.
While in Louisville, in the last week in September,
some important changes and events took place in
the organization of Buell's army.
Gen. William Nelson, who had been one of the
most efficient division commanders, was killed on
the 29th at the Gait House, by Gen. Jefferson C.
Davis, in a personal c{uarrel. The army was the
same day reorganized into three corps; the first
commanded by Gen. A. D. McCook, consisting of
the divisions of Rousseau, Sill and Jackson ; the
second corps, commanded by Maj. Gen. Crittenden,
was composed of the divisions of Wood, Van Cleve
and Smith ; and the third corps contained the divi-
sions of Schoepf, Sheridan and Mitchell. To the
70 The Stoky of the Second Regiment.
command of this corps Gen. Buell assigned "Maj.
Gen, C. C. Gilbert," by orders of September 29th.
Gilbert was a Captain in the 1st United States
infantr\', who had been "appointed a Major General
of volunteers, subject to the approval of the Presi-
dent," by Gen. Wright, and by him "assigned to the
command of the army of Kentucky." This appoint-
ment, it appears, was never approved by the
President, though a commission as Brigadier Gen-
eral was issued to him on the 25th of September.
Gen. Buell, supposing him to be in fact a Major
General, thus placed him in command of the corps
over three division cominanders and two of the
brigade commanders who were actualh- his seniors
in rank. Gilbert in turn, it is said, assigned Capt.
Gay of his staff to the command of the brigade
of cavalry, as "Chief of Cavalry," over several
colonels and field officers senior to him.
These unauthorized honors were not very
modestly borne by the officers so distinguished, and
within the three weeks of the following campaign, a
very general protest against them was developed
throughout the corps and among the men of every
grade in the service. Gen. Buell was held respon-
sible for them and so shared the censure.
Matters were getting decidedly unpleasant all
around, when on the 23rd of October "Brig. Gen.
C. C. Gilbert" was suddenW relieved by Gen. Buell
from the command of the third corps and assigned to
the tenth division, and on the next day Gen. Buell
himself was, by orders from Washington, relieved
from the command of the army and department,
The Perryville Campaign. 71
and Maj. Gen. W. S. Rosecrans "was assigned to it,
the actual transfer taking place on the 30th.
On the first of October our army, rested, reclothed
and resupplied, moved out to find and fight the
enemy now confronting our lines about Louisville.
He retired as we advanced, and passing consecutively
through Shepardsville, Bardstown and Fredricks-
burg, we overtook his rear guard near Springfield,
on the morning of the 6th, and our regiment being
at the head of our column, we had a continual
skirmish all day, both armies moving about seven-
teen miles towards Perryville, where was a small
stream known as Chaplin river. The country we had
covered during the past week was almost destitute
of water and probably its supposed presence in the
vicinity had something to do with locating the
collision of the armies at that place. On the 7th
we halted in the valle\' of Doctor's creek, a branch
of Chaplin river, in sight of and about three miles
east of the village. The creek was nearly dry, onh'
small pools here and there to be found in the bed,
and guards were placed over them to prevent the
watering of horses and mules in any except those
reserved for that purpose.
On the 8th we moved, early in the morning, down
the valley toward Perr3'ville about a mile, in search
of water, and bivouacked as before, having no tents
with us. McCook's corps was on the left of our gen-
eral line ; and about noon we heard musketry, and
later artiller}^ firing in his front. No order or inform-
ation came to us, however, and about four o'clock,
our scanty supply of water having again given out,
a company was detailed from each regiment of our
72 The Story of the Second Regiment.
division, and carrying all the canteens of their reg-
iments, they \vere sent, in command of Lieut. Col.
Bishop, to look for a fresh snppW further down the
valley to the left. As we pursued our quest we
approached the firing and finally found a pool and
filled our canteens in full sight of the battle field.
One of the enemy's batteries was within easy range
of us, but was too busy entertaining their opponents
to pav anv attention to us. We w^atched the battle
a few^ minutes and hurried back to our division
w^ondering w^hy the whole army, and especialh^
why our division, \vas not taking any interest or
part in it. Soon after our return, and while the
canteens were being distributed, our brigade was
ordered to McCook's relief, and moving about half
a mile to the left we were posted in a strip of
woods, on the right of his line, our regiment so far
back in the trees that we could see nothing of what
was going on in the front but not so far back as to
be out of reach of the enemy's artillery, which now
and then landed a shell among us. We were, how-
ever, in this position for a few minutes in imminent
danger from a line of our own men, a new regiment,
which just after dark was moved up into position in
the woods immediately behind us. They were nerv-
ously expecting to find an enemy in that vicinity,
and were just ready to open fire at the first indica-
tion of his presence. They could not see us in the
gloom, nor we them, but a prompt and vigorous in-
troduction of the two regiments to each other by
name probably saved us from what would have been
a sad misfortune. We had no experience in the
whole war more startling: than that cocking: of
The Perryville Campaign. 73
muskets behind us, knowing as we did, that they
were in the hands of friends who were not informed
of our presence in front of them.
The battle ended with the daylight, but w^e lay
on our arms in position all night and most of the
next day, going forward again in the afternoon to
the creek valle}- for water, and there spent the night.
Sheridan's and Mitchell's divisions of Gilbert's
corps had got into collision with the enem\^'s left
during the evening of the 7th, in getting into
position, and again pending McCook's battle;
though separated from him by the u'hole width of
the valley, they had quite a fight of their own,
without, however, having any orders from com-
petent authority conforming their operations to
McCook's. None of Crittenden's corps participated
in the engagement in any way.
As to the battle of Perr\^ville, it was at the
time understood that Gen. McCook had undertaken
to fight it out with his corps unaided, and failed
to accomplish what would have been an easy task
for our whole arni}^ had all been invited to share
in it. The spectacle of his single corps engaged for
four hours with the opposing arm}' while our
division lay idly within sight of the field, and
Crittenden's corps within sound of the guns, is,
even at this distance, an astonishing one. It
appears from the official reports that neither Buell
nor Gilbert knew that a battle was going on tmtil
it was too late to put in additional troops effect-
ively, and that Gen. Thomas, who commanded on
the extreme right, knew nothing of it until it was
all over.
74 The Story of the Second Regiment.
He had heard the firing at a distance, and,
sending for information about it, was told that
"McCook was making a reconnoisance."
The opportunity to crush Bragg's army was
thus lost, and he withdrew it next day.
Our division, now commanded b}' Brig. Gen. A.
Schoepf included three brigades of five regiments
each; our (the third) brigade was now commanded
bv Brig. Gen. J. B. Steedman, and comprised the
87th Indiana (recently joined), and the 18th U.
S., 2nd Minnesota, 9th Ohio and 35th Ohio
remaining in it from its first organization.
On the 10th we moved eastward about five
miles, passing through Perr\^ville, where we found
everv house filled with the enemy's wounded. On
the 12th we passed Danville and Lancaster, and
on the 13th camped on Dick's river at Crab
Orchard. Here we remained a week, while Critten-
den's corps pursued the enemy southward in a
fruitless chase.
During our stay here an inspector general from
corps headquarters dropped in one day unan-
nounced, with an order from Maj. Gen. C. C.
Gilbert, commanding, to inspect the 2nd Minnesota
regiment. The regiment was always read}^ for
inspection, and in a few minutes the column was
formed, ranks opened and the ceremony begun.
Each company in turn and the band was critic-
alh^ examined, and notations made of all details.
As to the condition of men and equipments no
fault was found in any particular; the cartridge
boxes and haversacks were all filled, and the
reofiment could have marched on ten minutes'
The Perryyille Campaign. 75
notice for three days detached service; so the
inspector truthfully remarked. The captain of the
right conipan}' (G) was, however, sharply repri-
manded because his first lieutenant stood in front
of the center of his company and the second
lieutenant in front of the left files, the inspector
telling him that he ought to know that these
officers should stand in front of their places "in
order of battle." The captain replied that himself
and lieutenants were in the positions prescribed by
the army regulations. The inspector then assumed
to place him under arrest "b}' command of Maj.
Gen. Gilbert" for insolence to an officer of the
staff. This proceeding was overruled by the regi-
mental commander then present, who instructed
the inspector that the captain's reply was not
an insolent, but a civil and correct one; that
had it been so grossly improper as to justify
arrest. Gen. Gilbert had not ordered it, and
the inspector himself had no authority to make it.
The inspector took his leave in hot anger, saying
that Y^^e should hear directly from Gen. Gilbert
himself.
A da}' or two later a written order came from
corps headquarters for the arrest of the captain to
await charges and trial as soon as the convenience
of the service would permit. This order was
ignored, and next da}^ the inspector, who had
made it his business to Yv^atch the regiment as it
passed on the road, informed the regimental com-
mander that it would be his painful dut}^ to report
to Gen. Gilbert that the order had not been
obeyed. What might have come of all this, had
76 The Stoky of the Second Regiment.
not the corps commander been so soon relieved of
his high rank and command, can onh- be con-
jectured.
On the 20th we commenced retracing our march,
and passing successively through Danville, Perrj^-
ville, Lebanon, Campbellsville, Green River and
Cave City, arrived at Bowling Green on the 2nd
of November.
Gen Rosecrans assumed command, vice Buell, on
the 30th of October.
We moved again on the 6th of November, and
next da\' encamped at Alitchellville. The railroad
tunnel near and south of this place having been
obstructed by the retreating enemy, all army sup-
plies were unloaded from the trains here and for-
warded by wagons to Gallatin and Nashville. Our
brigade performed this work here until the 12th,
when we removed to the tunnel, and for a change
of employment spent ten days in guarding and
clearing it out.
On the 23rd our regiment, with the 35th Ohio
and the 18th U. S., marched for Cunningham's
ford, on the Cumberland river, southeast of and a
few miles from Gallatin, Tenn., where we arrived
and encamped on the 25th. We remained here
four weeks, guarding the ford and making oc-
casional reconnoisances about the vicinity. We did
not, however, come into any serious collision with
the enemy. On the 7th of December a Union
brigade of new regiments, commanded by Col. A.
B. Moore, was attacked and captured b}^ the
enemy's forces, under John H. Morgan, at Harts-
ville, a few miles farther up the river. On the 22nd
The Perryville Campaign. 77
we were ordered back to Gallatin, and thence
about five miles southward toward Nashville.
Here we spent Christmas, and were ordered back
to Gallatin in great haste on the 26th.
Our brigade spent the next three weeks pleasantly
encamped near the village, occupying a good part of
our time in battalion drill and making an excursion
into the country now and then for forage and pro-
visions. All day on the 31st of December and on
the 1st of January, we heard the rumbling of the
cannonade at Stone's river, some thirty miles awa}^
and were glad to learn next day of the Union
victory there.
On the 13th our brigade, under orders to join the
division at Murfreesboro, marched by the pike some
thirteen miles and encamped midway between Galla-
tin and Nashville. Next day our regiment and the
87th Indiana were again ordered back to Gallatin,
and returned in a cold winter rain-storm to our
camp ground vacated the previous day, and here we
remained two Aveeks more. This second recall to
Gallatin was due, as was the first, to the threatened
attack on the place by the Confederate Gen. John
H. Morgan. Indeed, for more than two months,
we had been shufiled from place to place to meet
him, but he never granted us an interview.
During our stay at Gallatin the President's proc-
lamation of emancipation was promulgated, to take
effect January 1st, 1863, and hastened the complete
desertion by the negroes in that vicinity, of their
old hoines and masters.
One of these late "contrabands," now freed-
men, came to our regimental headquarters with
78 The SroRy of the Second Regiment.
iniormation, that at a point on the south side of
the Cumberland river, a few miles distant from our
camp, a good man}' thousand hogs had been killed
and cured in hams and bacon in the fall of 1861,
for account of the Confederate government ; that on
Buell's approach in the spring of 1862, the meat
had been transported to Nashville and thence to the
South, but that the lard in barrels had been buried ;
that he helped to do it and was willing to guide us
to the place. Next morning, Lieut. Col. Bishop,
with six companies of the 2nd Minnesota and a
section of artillery, went after the lard with wagons
to bring back the booty if successful. A march of
four or five miles brought us to the river, which
was too deep to ford, and the swift current had
destroyed the landing so that although we found a
flat scow, that had been used as a ferry boat, it
was impossible to cross the wagons or artillery.
Leaving these on the north bank with one company
to protect, if need be, our return crossing, five
companies went over in the scow, making several
trips w^ith about thirty men at each load, and after
marching about a mile and a half our guide pointed
out a large field, and said "dar it is." A crop of
corn had been grown and harvested there in
1862, but on probing the ground near the
middle of the field with our ramrods, we
soon located the lard mine. We had brought
shovels, and the crowd of darkeys who had joined
us, some from camp and some from neighboring
farms, very willingly helped to resurrect the barrels
which were buried side b\' side about two feet
deep in long continuous graves. Squads w^ere sent
The Perryville Campaign. 79
meantime to all the neighboring farms, who "bor-
rowed " all the wagons, carts, mules, horses and oxen
that could be found, and the lard barrels were con-
veyed to the river bank as expeditiously as possible.
About a hundred barrels were so delivered, when
the ground became so soft from the rain which was
copiously falling that further transportation out of
the corn field was impossible. Returning to the
river we recrossed with twenty or thirty barrels,
which were boosted up the north bank, loaded into
our wagons, taken to the camp and distributed to
the troops and hospitals.
Lieut. Waite was left at the river with a small
detachment to load the remainder of the barrels into
the scow, navigate it down the river to Nashville
and deliver the lard to the depot quartermaster
there, which he successfully accomplished.
This excursion served to break the monotony of
waiting for Morgan, and as we had plenty of flour
the old time doughnvits displaced the hard tack for
a day or two.
On the 29th we were again ordered to join our
division, and, boarding a railroad train at Gallatin,
succeeded in getting to Nashville without recall or
interruption .
Our wagons, with our baggage, tents, etc., did
not reach us until noon on the 30th. On the 31st
we encamped eleven miles south of Nashville, on
the Nolensville pike, and under the orders of Brig.
Gen. James B. Steedman, now commanding the
division, were ready for a new and we hoped more
active campaign.
80 The Story of the Second Regiment.
CHAPTER VII.
TRIUNE AND TULLAHOMA.
On the 1st of February our brigade marched in
hot haste ten or twelve miles, over the rough,
narrow, dirt roads towards Franklin, to encounter
Wheeler's brigade of Confederate cavalry, which was
reported to be in the vicinity, but \ve failed to find
anv enemv, and after a dav of hard marching we
.spent a cold night without tents or shelter. Next
day we retraced our path to the Nolens ville pike and
encamped on the farm of Col. Battle of the 20th
Confederate Tennessee regiment, near Concord
church, and about twelve miles from Nashville.
This 20th Tennessee was the regiment opposed to
ours in the fight across the fence at Mill Springs,
and we occupied their camp and tents at Beech
Grove the two days succeeding that battle. Col.
Battle was now with his regiment in Bragg's army.
His wife and daughters and the widow of his son
(who was killed, a Lieutenant in his father's regi-
ment, at Shiloh) were at home. We encamped our
regiment in the ample lawn, \vhich, shaded with
fine large trees and sloping from the house towards
the south, was as pleasant a site as could be desired.
Our headquarter tents were set quite near the
house and we soon became acquainted with the
ladies. They urgently objected to our encamping
on the ground we had selected, they deeming any of
the flat wet fields farther away quite good enough
for us, but being informed of our interview with Col.
Triune and Tullahoma. 81
Battle and of his kind hospitality towards us a
3^ear before, and being reminded that if we did not
occup}' that lovely lawn some other, and no doubt
worse regiment would, they did not further oppose
us, though they graciously expressed the hope that
our sta}" would be short. We remained here a
month, however, employing our time in various
reconnoitering and foraging expeditions towards
the front, which always developed an active enemy
within a few miles.
Two or three days after our arrival here, Capt.
Curtis, of Gen. Rosecrans' staff, made a thorough
and critical inspection of the regiment, and soon
afterwards a complimentary letter was received
from Department Headquarters which referred to
the inspection and greatly pleased the men. who
well deserved it. {See appendix No. 13.)
Col. George, who had been for several weeks
physicalh' unfit for active duty and exposure to the
severe winter weather, was obliged to leave us here
on the 2nd of February, going to Minnesota for
rest and treatment, on sixty days "sick leave."
On the 15th a foraging party of two corporals
and tw^elve men, under First Sergt. L. N. Holmes,
all of Company "H," went out to the front three
or four miles for corn. They were loading their
wagons from a large and well filled crib when they
were suddenly surrounded by two companies of
Confederate cavalry, numbering about 125 men.
The cavalry charged down upon them firing their
carbines and yelling "surrender you d d 3'anks."
Our boys in the crib did not think it necessary to
surrender, but commenced firing in return with
82 The Story of the Second Regiment.
deliberate aim, emptying a saddle with almost every
shot, and the astonished cavalry soon quit yelling
and withdrew out of range for consultation ; then
decided that they had had enough of the "d d
yanks " and disappeared altogether. Our boys filled
their wagons, picked up three of the wounded
rebels and seven riderless horses which the enem}'
had left in the field, and returned safely to camp.
Two of the wounded died next day. Several others,
slightly wounded, got away - by the help of their
companions.
Col. Van Derveer, commanding the brigade, was
much elated by the brave conduct of the 2nd
Minnesota boys, and issued a special order compli-
menting them by name. (5ee appendix No. 14 )
General Steedman, commanding the division,
thought the afikir sufficiently creditable to "my
command" to justify a special report by telegraph
to department headquarters, describing the fight ;
refraining, however, from any mention of the
names or regiment of the men engaged. (See
appendix No. 15. )
Another of these details from our regiment
brought in one da^- eight army wagon loads of
fine potatoes, which \vere a ver\^ w-elcoiue addition
to our somewhat too regular bill of fare.
On the 2nd of March we said "good-by" to
our friends, the ladies of the Battle family, express-
ing our willingness to take an}^ message the^'
might wish to send to the Colonel, and to deliver
it, if he would wait somew^here long enough to get
it, "as he probablv wouldn't," and in return we
Triune and Tullahoma. 83
were invited to stop and see them as we returned
northward, if we had time, "as we probably
wouldn't."
We marched southward about 15 miles to
Triune, where the brigade bivouacked for the night
and remained most of the next day.
At 4 p. M., on the 3rd, Lieut. Col. Bishop was
ordered with the 2nd Minnesota regiment, a section
of artillery and two battalions of the 1st East
Tennessee cavalry to move southward to the Har-
peth river and take and hold the ford where the
Nolensville-Eagleville pike crossed it, and to there
await the coming of the brigade, w^hich would follow
next morning. The place was reached about
sunset ; the rebel pickets were driven - away, the
infantry' and artiller}- were posted to command the
ford, and one battalion of the cavalrv was sent
across the river to reconnoiter the neighboring
territory. They soon found some rebel cavalry in
small parties, and after a running fight returned
towards morning with some prisoners. General
Steedman caine up in the tnorning with the other
regiments of the brigade, and, crossing the river,
we found and attacked a party of the enem\', cap-
turing 60 prisoners and 300 horses and mules.
Next day we made a quick march of eighteen
miles to Chapel Hill, where we had another brush
with the enemy, routing him at the first attack,
then returned b\' another road six or seven miles
and bivouacked, marching next day back to
Triune, with our booty and prisoners.
On the 7th we made a permanent camp about
two miles north of Triune, in a good defensible
position with plenty of wood and water.
84 The Story of thk Second Regiment.
Triune was a small hamlet about midway
between Murfreesboro and Franklin. Here our
division was assembled and the first regiment
of East Tennessee cavalry was attached to it,
and here we remained more than three months.
Considerable work was done in fortifying the
position, large details being made from the regi-
ments in turn for the purpose. The detail of a
hundred men from our regiment quite astonished
the Captain of Engineers who had charge of the
work, bv doing about twice as much as had been
done by any previous one. He profusely com-
plimented the officers and men for their efficiency',
and to further show his appreciation of their
work, he invited the entire detail to division head-
quarters to receive a ration of whiskey. Arriving
there he was embarrassed to find that the commis-
sary had none to issue, and he w^as trying to
frame a suitable expression of his regret, when it
occurred to him that Gen. Steedman, who was
absent at the time, had a keg of the juice in his
tent. Relieved by the happy thought, he got out
the keg and a little tin cup, and the boA'S formed
in single file around the headquarters tents ; as
they passed the keg each one received his ration, and
passing around the tents took his place again at
the foot of the line. When the keg was emptied
some fifteen or twenty of the bo^^s w^ere still in line
ready for their third ration; most of them, how-
ever, had been satisfied with the second. The
Captain, who had taken a ration or two himself,
w^as very sorr^^ there was not enough to go
around, but had done the best he could to give
TrIUNK and TlLLAHOMA. 85
each one a drink, and could do no more. The
detachment made a somewhat boisterous and dis-
orderK' march back to our camp, and their unusual
hilarity had to be explained by the officer in
charge. It was said that the Engineer Officer was
prudently absent himself when Gen. Steedman
returned to find the keg empty.
On the 2v5th and 26th of March our brigade
made another excursion into the enemy's territory
south of Harpeth river, and after a successful skirm-
ish loaded our train with forage and returned to
camp. On the 29th of March we received Enfield
rifles to replace the guns of various kinds and
calibers which we had thus far used. The Enfields
were not satisfactory, but the change was some
improvement.
Gen. J. M. Scofield here superseded Steedman,
as division commander, and gave us several w^eeks
of pretty active exercise in brigade maneuvers and
drill, the first we had ever had.
Gen. J. M. Brannan relieved Scofield May 10th,
and continued as our division commander until the
reorganization of the arm}- after Chicamauga.
Our bugle band had, as opportunity was afforded
for practice, so improved their time that we had
become quite proud of them, and having some
money in the regimental fund, a complete set of
brass instruments was ordered from Cincinnati
and arrived on the 8th of April. Principal musician
R. G. Rhodes was announced as band master, and
for the next few weeks the woods about the camp
were full of practicing musicians. The}- made rapid
86 The Story of the Second Regiment.
progress, and before we left Triune, June 23rd, our
band compared \vell with any in the division.
Col. George returned on the 31st of March, not
physically in good condition, but able to do duty
not requiring active exercise.
Brigade exercises were continued under Gen.
Brannan, and a grand review of the troops was held
on the 5th of April.
On the 1st of May we were supplied with the
new "shelter tents" or "pup tents," as they were
called by the men, and all the wall and bell tents
were sent back to Nashville, except those required
by the brigade and regimental headquarters and for
the field hospitals. These pup tents were simple
pieces of light canvass, each about the size of an
arm\^ blanket, and so fitted that two comrades by
buttoning their two pieces together and improvising
some simple support, could have a comfortable
shelter from rain or sun. These tents were to be
carried by the men, and so the wagon trains were
reduced from thirteen wagons to three for each
regiment ; the officers of each company being allowed
one pack mule to carry their baggage.
On the 4th of June Gen. Gordon Granger came to
Triune to inspect the position and the troops which
had come under his command as part of the "right
wing." The day w^as spent in brigade and division
maneuvers in the hot sun, with little rest and no
food or water. It closed with a grand review, after
\vhich the troops were marched back to their camps.
Artillery firing had been heard during the after-
noon in the direction of Franklin, and when our
brigade was dismissed from the review, at 5
Triune and Tullahoma. 87
o'clock, it was ordered to march immediately to
Franklin. Col. Van Derveer, commanding it, gave
us thirty minutes in camp after arriving there for
supper. During this interval the officers of the
2nd Minnesota called in a body at headquarters
and presented a spirited and beautiful bay mare to
Lieut. Col. Bishop, who had recentlj^ lost his horse
by overheating in the field exercises. This presenta-
tion was a grateful surprise to him at the time, and
and will be gratefully remembered as long as
he lives. She proved to be a most valuable and
intelligent animal and became a great pet in the
regiment. She was twice shot under her rider, but
served until the final muster out of the regiment and
died in the Colonel's care some fifteen years thereafter.
We marched at 6 o'clock for Franklin, fifteen
miles distant. The da}^ had been excessively hot
and sultry, but now the sky grew black, and,
after a severe thunder storm, it settled down for a
steady, heavy, all-night rain. That night's march
will never be forgotten by the men of Van Derveer's
brigade. The darkness was intense, the road soft,
slipper}' and so uneven that some of the men were
down or falling all the time. We were ten hours
in making the march, arriving before daybreak
utterly exhausted, and phj^sically and mentally
exasperated. The garrison seemed to be all asleep.
No enemy was in the neighborhood, and we lay
down in a lawn in the village to wait for dawn.
Our field officers stretched themselves on the floor
of the front porch of the spacious mansion.
A little before sunrise the front door opened and
a stafl" officer came out, and waking Col. George
88 The Story of the Second Regiment.
with his foot, told him that the presence of the
regiment on the premises was not agreeable to the
lad}^ owner, and requested him to move on and
out. The Colonel had a talent for vigorous and
emphatic profanity upon occasion, and he did his
best here; but, as he afterwards acknowdedged, no
man could do justice to such hospitality as that.
The officer who had aroused him slunk back into
the house, withered and abashed, and did not
appear again during the forenoon. In the after-
noon we made a reconnoisance in search of the
enemv, but found none. On the 6th we returned
to our camp at Triune.
The usual round of guard and picket duty, bat-
talion and brigade exercises, was resumed, varied
by an occasional march to Nashville or to the front
for supplies.
On the 23rd we broke camp on an hour's notice,
and commenced the " Tullahoma Campaign";
marching southward and then eastward, in all
about fifteen miles, over a rough and rocky road,
to a camp near Salem. Here it commenced raining,
and of the next seventeen days, fourteen were
rainy. Of course the roads and country soon
became almost impassable, and the soldiers seldom
had dry clothes or rations.
On the 24th our trains moving eastw^ard were
threatened from the south by the enemy's cavalry,
and Lieut. Col. Bishop, with four companies of the
regiment, was detailed to keep them back. We
had a skirmish fight in the rain, lasting nearly all
day, bivouacked on the disputed field at night, and
rejoined the regiment next day. Lieut. Col. Bishop
Triune and Tullahoma. 89
and several of his men got bullet holes in their
clothing, but no more serious casualties ; the
enem\', firing mostly from horseback, did not aim
with much precision. On the 29th our regiinent
had another all day skirmish fight, killing several
and wounding others of the enemy. Among the
killed was Col. Starnes, and an aid to Gen.
Wheeler, who was shot while carrying a dispatch
from his chief. After he fell from his horse he was
seen to tear in pieces the message, but it was
recovered, put together and read. Only one man
of our regiment w^as w' ounded.
At times, when we had forced back the enemy's
line more rapidly than they approved, they opened
on us with artiller\' to check our advance. The
surgeon of the regiment on our right, who was
riding behind the advancing line, was very suddenly
let down by a shell from the enemy's batterj^,
which entered the breast and exploded in the body
of the horse without hurting the doctor. The boys
unmercifulh' guyed him as he gathered up his
saddle and went to the rear.
On the 26th we had a rattling skirmish for the
possession ot Hoover's Gap. The enemv gave way
tor us as we advanced rapidl}' through the gap,
and although they did a good deal of wild firing,
no men were hurt in our regiment.
On the 1st of July we drove the enemy's picket
line into and through Tullahoma, to find that his
army had evacuated the place during the previous
night, leaving a good many of their tents standing,
several big guns, and a considerable quantity of
stores. On the 2nd we reached Elk river, finding
90 The Story of the Second Regiment.
it at flood height and the bridge gone. Our regi-
ment captured one party of eleven prisoners, and
another of four.
On the 3rd of July the flood had subsided a
little and it was found practicable to ford the stream
by the aid of a rope stretched across to keep the
men from being carried down by the current. Our
brigade stripped to the skin ; the knapsacks, clothes,
rations, cartridge boxes, etc., making a bundle of
twenty-five or thirty pounds, were carried on the
bayonet, the gun supported b\' one hand w^hile the
other kept a grasp on the rope, as the men in single
file waded the stream in the rushing waters up to
their necks. None of the men in our brigade were
drowned, but some of them lost their bundles in the
passage and landed destitute and naked. As the
flood subsided the artillery and trains began to
cross and a bridge was improvivsed. On the 4th we
heard of the battle of Gettysburg and next dav of
the surrender of Vicksburg, both events being
announced in general orders, and honored by
national salutes by the artillery.
The enemy had now disappeared from our
vicinity, and as it was nearh- impossible to move
artillery or trains we rested here nine days, and on
the 18th moved to Winchester, where we remained
four weeks, the time being occupied in rebuilding
the railroads behind us and refitting and equipping
for the next advance. Just a year ago we were
encamped here for several days, and we now felt
quite at home and acquainted.
JAMES GEORGE, Colonel.
March 21 1862 to June 29, 1864.
Thk Campaign and Battle of Chicamatca. 91
CHAPTER VIII.
THE CAMPAIGN AND BATTLE OF
CHICAMAUGA.
On the 16th of August our pleasant camp at
Winchester was broken up and we marched east-
ward about a mile, under a blazing sun, and tw^o
miles farther in a terrific thunderstorm ; then finding
the road full of troops and trains entitled to pre-
cedence we encamped. Next day we marched three
miles farther, reaching the foot of the Cumberland
mountain range, over whicl^ our route lay to reach
the Tennessee river.
Here we found the heavy wagon trains toiling
up the steep, narrow, tortuous road, ascending the
western slope of the mountain, and the slow prog-
ress of the last two days was explained.
On the 18th we found the road clear, and marched
up the mountain side to Universit}' Place, on the
summit, where we spent the night. Here the corner-
stone of a magnificent "to be" university had been
laid by Rt. Rev. Bishop Polk, now a general in the
Confederate army. An endowment of three million
dollars had been pledged, and the foundations of
the several buildings had been constructed, when
the war interrupted the enterprise with an adjourn-
ment "s/ne die.''
On the 19th we inarched down the eastern slope
of the mountain range, and encamped at the foot
in Sweden's Cove, remaining there the 20th.
92 The Story of the Second Regiment.
Since leaving our Winchester camp we had found
plenty of green corn, and the "roasting ears" had
made a considerable item in our subsistence.
On the 21st we moved to the north bank of the
Tennessee river, at the mouth of Battle Creek, about
six miles above Bridgeport, where the railroad
bridge had been destroyed, and was being rebuilt
by our engineer forces.
The river here was broad and deep, and the
enemy's pickets lined the south bank. They, for the
first few days, kept popping their guns at our men
whenever they approached the river, and occasion-
ally the bullets would reach our camps, but we
picketed the north bank with better rifles, and
after a competitive trial of marksmanship, the men
on duty came to an agreement to save their ammu-
nition, and thereafter amused themselves in guying
each other ''viva voce.'' The men of both armies,
not on duty, came down freeh' to bathe on their
respective sides of the river, and soon it got to be
a common practice for a good swimmer or two
from each side to meet in mid river and swap lies,
newspapers, etc., while the pickets kept watch to
see there should be no foul pla\' or breach of
confidence.
Col. George rejoined us here on the 24th, from a
long absence on sick leave, and left us again on the
27th, promising to be back, if alive, in time for the
expected battle. He kept his promise, returning to
the regiment on the 18th of September, the day
before the battle of Chicamauga. Meanwhile
Company "F" of our regiment, composed mostly of
river men and raftsmen from the Lake St. Croix
The Campaign and Battle of Chicamauga. 93
lumber regions, had been quietly at work in Battle
Creek, out of the enemy's sight, constructing rafts
and rude scows, on which four of our companies
effected a crossing in the evening of the 29th, and
got possession of the south shore. The enemy, not
expecting an effort to cross here, had left only a
few men to watch the river, not enough to make
an^^ serious op]30sition. By noon next day our
entire brigade was over, and the two other bri-
gades of our division (Brannan's) completed the
crossing on the 31st.
Meantime the other divisions of the army were
crossing vsimultaneously at several points above
and below us, and our trains and artillery were
sent down to Bridgeport, to cross on the new bridge
when it should be ready.
On the first day of September we moved out
about three miles to Graham's Spring, near the foot
of Raccoon mountain, and near the monument
marking the corner of the three states, Alabama,
Georgia and Tennessee.
Near this camp was the celebrated "Nick a Jack "
or Salt-petre cave, which was visited and explored
by hundreds of our men during our four days' en-
campment here. A large stream of pure water
issued from the mouth of the cave, which was
about twenty feet high and seventy feet wide.
The cave had been explored, it was said, for a
distance of several miles ; some of our men, in
trying to verify this, got lost, and with consider-
able difficulty were found and rescued, after spend-
ing a very long night, as they said, "in the bowels
of the Confederacy."
94 The Story of the Second Regiment.
Here the Confederate government had made an
attempt, with some success, to obtain salt-petre for
the manufacture of gunpowder. On the 5th, our
train and artillery having arrived, we marched up
the "Nick a Jack trace," as the ravine is called by
which the road ascends the w^estern slope of
Raccoon mountain. After making four or five
miles it w^as found that the road needed so much
repair and the w^agons so much help that it would
be impossible to get the trains to the summit that
night, and we were obliged to go back two miles
to find w-ater for a camp. On the 6th we com-
pleted the ascent and encamped on the summit,
and on the 7th descended the eastern slope into
Lookout, or Will's valley, and encamped at Boiling
Springs, about five miles below Trenton.
Here we remained two days, learning on the
9th that Bragg had evacuated Chattanooga on
the 8th and was retiring southward.
On the 10th we marched through Trenton and
up the Lookout valley about thirteen miles. On
the 11th we started in the morning, but having
the road ahead of us full of artillery- and trains
toiling up the mountain, we only made three miles
and halted at the foot of a long steep grade.
Orders reached us at 7 p. m. to start at once and
pass the trains, as the enemy had been encountered
on the opposite side of the mountain, but these
orders were soon countermanded, and we bivouacked
again.
Next morning we started at 5 o'clock, crossed
the mountain and halted in Chattanooga vallc}'
at 10 A. M. At 2 P. M. made a reconnoisance,
The Campaign and Battle of Chicamauga. 95
returning to our position at 7 o'clock. Here we
remained the 13th and 14th, while troops and
trains were moving around and behind us in a
wav that then seemed mysterious and without any
definite or intelligible purpose. On the 15th our
brigade moved to Lee's Mill, on or near the
Chicamauga creek, and bivouacked in line of battle
in apparent preparation for a fight right there.
We remained there the 16th, "standing to arms"
at four o'clock on the mornings of the 16th and
17th, in expectation of an earlj^ attack.
On the 1 7th the heav}' clouds of dust extending
along the eastern slope of the Chicamauga valley
showed us the enemy's columns were in motion
northward, and about 8 o'clock we "took arms"
and commenced our march "by the left flank"
abreast of, and less than a mile distant from, the
enemy's parallel march by his "right flank.','
Our progress was slow, the day hot and the
road ankle deep with fine dust, with which the
tramping feet filled the air as the column moved
along. At ten o'clock we had got about three
miles from our starting point, when some scatter-
ing musket shots w^ere heard in our rear, and
presently an order was received from Col. Van
Derveer, commanding our brigade, for the 2nd
Minnesota to return as far as Pond Springs, see
wrhat was the matter and rejoin the brigade. We
unslung and piled our knapsacks, leaving a few
men with them, and in less than an hour retraced
nearly the whole forenoon's march. As we came
in sight of the springs the two leading companies
were deployed forward, and men were detailed from
96 The Story of the Second Regiment.
each company to take all the canteens and fill
them at the springs as promptly as possible upon
our arrival there. Approaching the place we found
the springs in possession of a detachment of the
enemy's cavalrj^ who Avere resting in unsuspicious
comfort, man}^ of them dismounted. They had
been worr^nng our trains, and being repulsed by
the guards, had halted here for reinforcements.
They were promptly attacked and routed by our
advance skirmishers, and while we halted, main-
taining ranks, the canteens were filled and dis-
tributed. Then we reversed our march, returning
bv the left flank to our brigade, which had not
moved during our absence, and soon bivouacked
for the night.
The light from the enemy's camp fires was
visible all night to the eastward, and we slept
"on our arms," read\' to be attacked if he so
pleased.
All dav a feverish, mysterious, nervous forebod-
ing had seemed to pervade the camp ; ever^^ one
was conscious of it and apprehensive that every-
thing was not in order as it should be. The con-
fused and halting marches, of which the purpose
or destination was not apparent, were not un-
observed by the men, and regimental and brigade
officers had little, if any, better knowledge of the
situation than their men had.
We remained here all day on the 18th, while
troops and artillery and trains were moving behind
us to the left or northward, and about 5 p. m. we
joined in the procession. Old soldiers will remem-
ber that a night march of unusual fatigue generally
The Campaign and Battle of Chicamauga. 97
commenced just before supper. On this occasion
we moved about a quarter of a mile per hour
through the whole night, halting* ever\' few rods
just long enough to get stiff and cold, but
never long enough to btiild fires and get warm.
Many of the men would fall asleep, sinking down
in the road and some standing on their feet, but
strict orders were given not to leave the column,
and to follow closeW those leading us. As the day
began to dawn we could see the brigades and
batteries leaving the road from time to time and
moving off in line of battle into the woods to the
eastward towards the Chicamauga creek, and we
knew that the army was taking position for the
great contest so long anticipated. We could now
understand how this had been going on during
the night, and how slow and difficult had been the
construction of the grand line of battle in the
darkness, and our tedious and halting progress
was so accounted for.
As we began to understand the situation our
vague apprehensions gave place to an active
and intelligent interest in the preparations
being made, and we braced up and awaited our
time for assignment to position. We had been all
night in moving less than five miles, were now on
the Lata\'ette-Chattanooga road, and had passed
in the darkness near Gen. Rosecrans' headquarters
at the Widow Glenn's house. At 8 o'clock our
brigade halted, filed out of the road near. Kelly's
house and stacked arms, while the word was
passed down the line "twenty minutes for break-
fast." In five minutes hundreds of little fires were
&8 The Story of the Second Regiment.
kindled and hundreds of little coft'ee cans were filled
with water from the canteens and set to boil by
one of each pair of chums, while the other sliced
and broiled the bacon ; in ten minutes the boiling
coffee was lifted off, the luscious bacon was nicely
browned, and the ever toothsome hardtack had
been moistened and toasted, and — here comes an
aid at a furious gallop down the dusty road ; a
brief order delivered by hiin to Col. Van Derveer,
our brigade commander, and each regiment gets
orders to "take arms" and march immediately.
Of course some urgent and peremptory necessity
was supposed, but how could we leave that break-
fast untasted, even for love of country or of glory.
The bugle call to "attention" was drowmed in a
tempest of curses, but the order was promptly
obeyed nevertheless, arms were taken, and we filed
out into the road, now^ clear, and briskh' moved
off northward in a cloud of choking dust. "Dread-
ful! dreadful!" exclaimed our venerable chaplain,
as the air grew sulphurous with profanity. "But
think," said one near him, "how dreadfuller it
would be to go into battle and get killed with all
those curses in 'em." "Colonel," said one of these
men a quarter of a century later, "d'ye moind
that breakfast we didn't ate at Chicamauga?
Be jabers, oi can taste it yet."
After making about a mile we halted near
McDaniel's house, whence a road, or rather a
narrow wagon track, leads through the open oak
woods eastward to Reed's bridge and ford on the
Chicamauga creek.
The Campaign and Battle of Chicamauga. 99
It may be here explained that the extreme left of
our general line of battle rested in the woods, about
opposite the midway point between Kelly's and
McDaniel's houses, and the position of the line,
• extending southward and facing eastward, was
about midway between and parallel to the road
and the creek. So as we faced the eastward and
marched in brigade order of battle along the Reed's
bridge road, we were detached from and nearly half
a mile to the left of the left division (Baird's) of
our established line. Our orders w^ere said to have
been given on information by Col. McCook, com-
manding a cavalry brigade on the left, that only
one Confederate brigade had crossed to the west
side of the Chicamauga, that he (McCook) had
destroyed the bridge (Reed's) behind it, and we were
to take and hold the ford, preventing further cross-
ing by the enemy, while our first and second
brigades were to find, attack and capture the
enemy's supposed isolated brigade. This informa-
tion, if given, proved entirely erroneous, nearly the
whole Confederate army being in position betw^een
our lines and the creek, and their brigades w^ere not
hard to find when we came to look for them.
Our brigade w^as formed with the 2nd Minnesota
on the left and the 35th Ohio on the right of the
front line, with Smith's battery in the road between
them. The 87th Indiana in a second line, behind
the 35th Ohio ; the 9th Ohio was detached with
the division ammunition train. So we commenced
our march, a few skirmishers preceding our front
line. After proceeding along the road, which seemed
to follow a ridge of small elevation, and while yet
100 The Story of the Second Regiment.
to the left and rear of Baird's division, of whose
position we had no knowledge, we heard musketry
to our right and front. Changing our direction to
face it, to the southward, we moved off the ridge
and down an easy slope, and soon met the enemy <
in force, now supposed to be Echol's and Wilson's
brigades, and the firing began at once. In a few
minutes the enemy retired, then rallied and attacked
again, and v^ere again repulsed, this time retiring
out of our sight. We gathered up our v^ounded
men and carried them back over the ridge to the
northern slope in our rear (the band performing
this service), replenished the cartridge boxes and
readjusted our line, the 87tli Indiana meantime
changing places with the 35th Ohio, on our right.
In a few minutes the firing again broke out in our
front, but while bullets dropped in among us, we
were, on account of the trees and under brush,
unable to see any men for a time. Then the firing
approached and the big guns joined in for a few
rounds, then a burst of cheers, "the rebel yell," the
artillery ceased and the rattling musketry came
nearer and the bullets thicker. Our inen were get-
ting nervous and were ordered to lie down and hold
their fire until they could see the enemy. Presently,
to our astonishment, a straggling line of men in
our own uniform appeared, then more of them,
running directly toward us, their speed accelerated
every moment by the yelling and firing of the
exultant enemy behind them. Our men got ready
and waited while the stampeded brigade, officers
and men, passed over our lines to the rear, and
then as the pursuing enemy came in view, gave them
The Campaign and Battle of Chicamauga. 101
a volley that extinguished their yelling and stopped
their advance. They rallied, however, and stood for
a few minutes receiving and returning our fire, then
wavered, broke and ran out of sight. Just now the
9th Ohio arrived, having abandoned the ammuni-
tion train when the firing broke out, and followed
our trail to the front. The firing had ceased when
Col. Kammerling rode up and vociferously demanded
"where them Got tarn rebels gone;" some one
pointed in the direction they w^ere last seen, and
away went the 9th Ohio over our front line, disre-
garding Van Derveer's orders to come back, and we
could hear them yell and cheer in both languages
long after they disappeared from sight. About a
quarter of a mile distant they found and recaptured
the battery (Guenther's), which the enemy had
taken half an hour before. The enemy's troops
about the battery made a fight for it, and Kam-
merling lost a good many men in getting it, and
was even then obliged to leave it, when recalled by
a peremptory order to rejoin the brigade, which he
did not receive or obey too soon.
During the first fighting our band men, as they
had been previously instructed, were busy with the
stretchers, picking up the wounded and carrying
them back up the slope of the ridge and over to the
north vside, where our surgeon, Dr. Otis Ayer, had
established a temporary hospital, and was giving
them such attention as circumstances permitted. It
soon happened, however, that some of these men
were shot the second time while being carried back,
and the carrying was suspended until the firing
should cease.
102 The Story of the Second Regiment.
Our skirmishers soon reported the enem\^ moving
around our left flank, and our regiment by facing
left and filing left, changed front to face the east.
The enemy made an attack upon us in this
position, which was repulsed by our regiment
alone, and then by the same maneuver we changed
front again to face the north, the enemy having
passed a large force around our left flank during
the last attack, 'which was probably made to
cover their movement.
We were now^ in the road again, and on the
right of our brigade, on a line nearly parallel to
our first position, but facing the opposite direction,
and the movement had brought our left company
next to the battery, which, without changing
position much, had exchanged the places of its
guns and caissons, and now faced the north; the
other regiments of our brigade had formed on the
left of the batter^s and for a moment of silence
we awaited the onset. Here on the ground, now
before us, lay our wounded men, who had been
carried back from the first line of fight, and were
now between the opposing lines. But — here they
come — ranks after ranks — emerging from the shelter-
ing trees and underbrush, and approaching us with
steady tramp and desperate silence. Our men were
cautioned now to shoot to kill, and we opened
with file firing that soon broke up the orderly
march of the first line, whose men hesitated and
commenced firing wildly ; their second lines were
now promptly moved up, and all together pressed
on in the charge. Our big guns were loaded with
canister, which opened great gaps in the enemy's
The Campaign and Battle of Chicamauga. 103
columns at every discharge, while the withering
fire of our infantry was thinning their ranks at
every step of their advance. They greatly out-
numbered us, and it seemed a question for a time
whether we could so reduce their numbers and
their nerve as to prevent an actual collision in
which they would have the majority ; but they
began to waver at sixty yards, and at forty they
broke, and then ran, every man for himself, leav-
ing, alas ! hundreds of brave fellows prostrate in
helpless suffering before us, some of them inter-
mingling with our own wounded men who had
been carried there from the first fight of the morning.
We supposed this attacking force to have beeri
the division which had earlier in the day success-
fully assaulted the brigades of King and Scribner,
capturing their two batteries. This assault and
repulse ended our part of the battle for the day;
we now refilled our cartridge boxes, gathered our
w^ounded men and sent them to the field hospital
at Cloud's house, and collected our dead for burial.
Our regiment had commenced the battle with
three hundred and eighty-four men and officers, of
whom eight had been killed and fort^'-one wounded ;
none missing:
While waiting orders here we heard from time
to time the roar of battle along the line to the
southward, but saw nothing more of the enemy in
our vicinity.
In the afternoon we were moved southward to
a field southwest of Kelly's house, where we
bivouacked for the night. We had had no rest and
but little food since noon of the 18th. The nig^ht
104 The Story of the Second Regiment.
was clear and cold, and many of the men in the
excitement and changing positions in the battle,
had lost their knapsacks and blankets. No fires
were permitted until after sunrise next morning,
and we passed a cheerless and uncomfortable night.
Yet when we remembered the thousands of poor
fellows who, maimed and suffering, lay scattered
all over the fields and woods, without food, water
or care, we forgot our own discomfort in pit}^ for
the wounded and dying.
We all knew that the issue had not been decided,
aud that the battle must be renewed next day,
with probably better preparation and more des-
perate fighting, and no one could predict what
would be his own fate when the contest should be
over.
Sunday morning, the 20th, the sun rose peace-
fully over the mist}' landscape ; all was quiet as
the grave ; the stillness was in fact oppressive for
a time. The tired soldiers, stiff with cold, got up
from their hard beds on the ground, stamped the
kinks out of their legs and answered the roll call,
and then, kindling their little fires, cooked their
bacon and cofi'ee. Our brigade, not being in line,
was then formed as a reserve in an open field near
Kelly's house, and west of the Lafayette road,
perhaps a quarter of a mile in rear of the line of
battle which, located in the woods, was invisible
to us.
About nine o'clock a scattering fire of musketry
ran along the line in our front, increasing rapidly
until within a few minutes the terrific roar of file
firing was in full volume, and the enemy's bullets
The Campaign and Battlk of Chicamauga. 105
were passing over our line of battle, chipping
through the leaves and branches of the trees, and
dropping into, among and around us in a very
disquieting manner. Directly the artillery opened
also, and v^diile the big shells were not so numerous
as the little bullets, they commanded more deference
and respect individually when they did come. This
did not appear to be a nice quiet place for a reserve
brigade, but there was none more sheltered in the
vicinity, so we had to sta^^ there and take it; the
men meanwhile bracing each other up with jokes
and facetious comments on everything in sight or
that might happen.
Presently the stragglers appeared coming out of
the woods and crossing the road and field, passing
us to the rear. Some few of them were wounded,
but the most of them were cowardly skulkers who
had sneaked out of the line of battle, and were
getting out of personal danger as fast as they could.
Their number increased rapidly, until it seemed to
us that our experience of the previous day was
about to be repeated. Some efforts were made to
stop and reform the demoralized fugitives, but most
of them had thrown away their guns and all of
them their courage, and in their then condition they
were not worth stopping. One party of six emerged
from the woods, carrying a blanket in which lay a
man with face covered. These men all carried their
guns also, and we set them down as a guard
detailed to carry back some general officer, desper-
ately wounded no doubt ; who could he be ? Pos-
sibly our own Van Cleve, whose division we knew
was somewhere in the front line. Directlv a shell
106 The Story of the Second Regiment.
came howling through the woods and burst on the
ground near them, when the}' dropped the blanket
and their guns and took the double quick to the
rear, and the man in the blanket got up and ran
after them. Out of this and other incidents we got
some diversion, ^-et the situation was a trying one
and we were much relieved when orders came to
go to the left of the line to repel a threatened attack
there. We moved northward along the west side of
and parallel to the Lafayette road some distance,
and then changing direction to the right approached
the road wdth our front facing eastward, parallel
to it. At this point we passed through a thicket
of small pines and other trees, which had obstructed
our view to the north and east. Emerging from
this we crossed the road in line of battle, to take
position on the left of a battery already there. Our
brigade was in two lines, the 2nd Minnesota being
on the right of the front line, nearest the battery,
the 87th Indiana on its left, and the 35th and 9th
Ohio in the second line. Before us lay a large open
field, bounded on the north by a strip of woods,
perhaps twent}' rods distant from the left of our
brigade. As we halted on the east side of the road
and began looking about for the enemy, whose
appearance we expected in our front (eastward),
the air was suddenly filled with bullets and a line
of gray smoke appeared along the edge of the
woods on our left and at right angles with our
lines. A change of front to the left w^as instantly
ordered, and executed by the left wheel of the
brigade. Pending this movement, which was made
on the run, we could not return the enemy's fire,
The Campaign and Battle of Chicamauga. 107
and we lost a good many men. The mounted
officers seemed to be especially selected, several of
them and all of the horses in the brigade but two,
were shot before the affair was over.
The wheel completed, our first line charged at
once up to the edge of the woods, driving the enemy
back, and then opened fire on them at short range.
They were stubborn and slow to give way, and
after a few minutes firing by our front line, Col.
Van Derveer ordered the second line to pass the
first and charge them again. This was done, the
first line joining in the charge, and the enemy's
front was thus broken up and soon they retired,
leaving the field and their wounded in our posses-
sion. Among these was their brigade commander.
Gen. Adams, of Breckinridge's division. It appeared
that this division had passed entirely around the
left of our line, and was about to attack our left
division in the rear, when we aridved and encount-
ered it as above described.
The fishtinof over for a time, our wounded men
were being gathered up and made as comfortable as
possible, until they should be removed to the hos-
pital. In the gallop around with the right wing of
his regiment in the open field, the horse bearing the
writer was shot in the breast, and dropping to her
knees dismounted her rider by a flying somersault
over her head. She was abandoned there but was
found after the fight by one of our wounded men,
and they helped each other over the road to Ross-
ville, rejoining the regiment about midnight. After
several weeks in hospital both recovered and served
to the end of the war.
108 The Story of the Second Regiment.
Presenth^ the crash of musketry was heard again
to our right, and as we listened it seemed to be veer-
ing around to our rear. As the enemy then had dis-
appeared from our o\vn front, a few men were
detailed to care for the wounded until the ambu-
lances should arrive, and \ve marched awa\^ towards
the sound of the guns. The enemy soon reoccupied
the field we had won and left, and the twelve
detailed men with our assistant surgeon, Dr. Otis
Ayer, and man^' of our wounded were made
prisoners. As we got into the open field, where we
had been "in reserve" in the morning, we were met
by an aid from Gen. Thomas, who conducted us to
Horseshoe Ridge, so called, near the Snodgrass house.
The battle seemed to be trending to that position
from all directions and we could see that we were
needed there. Gen. Thomas rode down to meet us,
and after giving some directions to Col. Van Derveer,
sat upon his horse and looked the men over as ^ve
marched past him and up the slope of the ridge.
Undoubtedly he \vas glad to see, in this eniergenc}^
the regiments, that under his eye, had fought and
won "Mill Springs," and he said to the writer that
he "was glad to see us in such good order." We
did not then know how many troops he had seen
in disorder during the day, nor did he know that
within an hour's fighting we had just lost more
than one-third of our regiment in killed and wounded,
yet we greatly appreciated the compliment at the
time.
Arriving on the ridge, our regiment took the
place of one already there (the 21st Ohio), which
had exhausted its cartridge boxes, and immediately
The Campaign and Batti.e of Chicamauga. 100
had a view of the assaulting columns of the enemy,
just commencing the ascent of the southern slope
in our front. Ranks followed ranks in close order,
moving briskly and bravely towards us. It was
theirs to advance, ours, now, to stand and repel.
Again the order was passed to aim carefully and
make every shot count, and the deadly work
began. The front ranks melted away under the
rapid fire of our men, but those following bowed
their heads to the storm of bullets and pressed on,
some of them falling at every step, until, the sup-
porting touch of elbows being lost, the sur-
vivors hesitate, halt, then turning, start back
with a rush that carries everything with them to
the rear — all who escape the bullets, as deadly in
the v^ild retrea.t as in the desperate and orderh'
advance. This was all repeated again and again,
until the slope was so covered with dead and
wounded men that looking from our position we
could hardly see the ground. Never was any
position more gallantly assaulted or more des-
perately defended. Meanw^hile General Steedman
had arrived with two brigades of fresh troops,
w^ho came up on our right with enthusiastic
cheers and "forty rounds" in their boxes, just in
time to meet the enemy's advance on the crest.
Our brigade had so far been the right of our line
at this place (except three detached regiments),
and being furiously assaulted in front, cotdd not
have prevented the enemy from enveloping our
right flank, as they seemed to have plenty of
troops and had discovered that the ridge to our
right was vacant. Steedman's arrival and prompt
110 The Story of the Second Regiment.
attack regained and secured that ground, and he
brought a spare wagon load of cartridges — more
precious than diamonds — as many of our men had
placed the last one in the gun. The cartridges
were quickly brought to the line and distributed,
just in time to meet the next attack. This was
made b}^ fresh troops, and their advance was only
broken up when their foremost men were within
ten paces of our line. Some of them came on and
surrendered; most of them who ran back were
killed or wounded before they got out of range.
From five to six o'clock an ominous quietude
prevailed. Our cartridges were again exhausted,
and the boxes of our own and the enemy's dead
and wounded were searched and emptied, and
baj^onets were fixed when it was found that we
had less than two rounds to the man. Another
attack was made just before dark, and was
repulsed in our front as the others had been, but
there seemed to be no contest on the right, where
Steedman's line had been, and presently we found
that his troops had been withdrawn and that the
enemy were groping their way around to our
right and rear, and had already captured the
detached regiments which had been between us and
Steedman. The 35th Ohio was promptly placed to
protect that flank, and after receiving a few shots
the enem\' retired, no doubt in the darkening
woods uncertain of the situation, and disconcerted
by the loss of their commanding o'flicer, who fell
there.
After another hour of waiting we were ordered
to move to Rossville by the Drj^ Valley road.
The Campaign and Battle of Chicamauga. l-ll
which we did, with empty guns, but without
opposition or adventure, our brigade being, as we
supposed, the last Union troops to leave the
bloody field. Our division commander, however,
says as to this in his official reports (just pub-
lished ) that the 68th and 101st Indiana covered
the retirement of our brigade, they "being the
only troops that had any ammunition whatever."
About midnight we arrived at Rossville gap, and
forming line, stacked arms and laid down to rest.
Next morning at Rossville, a muster and roll call
was had, and every man of the 2nd Minnesota
regiment of the 384, w^ho commenced the battle of
the 19th, was accounted for; 35 had been killed,
113 wounded, 14 captured and 222 were present
for duty unhurt. This report attracted the atten-
tion of the brigade commander, who, after verifying
its correctness, said in his official report of the
battle, "It is a notable fact that the 2nd Minnesota
regiment had not a single man among the missing,
or a straggler during the two da\^s engagement."
It appears from the "official records" just pub-
lished b}^ the War Department that our (Van
Derveer's) brigade was the last organized brigade
to leave the field, being followed onU' by the two
detached regiments as mentioned above. Also, that
but one (Whitaker's) of the thirty-six brigades of
the Army of the Cumberland engaged in these
battles, lost so many men in proportion to the men
engaged as did ours. This, considered with the
fact that at no time during either day did we vacate
any position in presence of the enemy, shows that
112 The Story of the Second Regiment.
the quality and discipline of the regiments were to
be relied on in any emergency.
The bravery and persistence with which the
enemy assaulted our line on the Horseshoe Ridge
may be estimated when we know that his two
divisions (Hindman's and Preston's) lost more than
three thousand killed and wounded in their vain
efforts to capture it.
No serious demonstration was made by the
eneni}' on the 21st, though our division remained
in position at Rossville gap. That day was
occupied by Gen. Rosecrans in placing the troops
about Chattanooga as they were collected, and in
restoring order and supplying ammunition, and
otherwise preparing for defence.
Our brigade was ordered in about midnight,
and at daybreak on the 22nd was in line at and
in front of Chattanooga. (See official reports,
appendix Nos. 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20.)
Chattanooga and Mission Ridge. 113
CHAPTER IX.
CHATTANOOGA AND MISSION RIDGE.
As the troops arrived at Chattanooga from the
Chicamauga battle field, they were formed in a
defensive line extending from the Tennessee river
above (north of) the town, around by the east in
a grand semi-circle, enclosing it, to the river bank
below (south of) it, the line being about two miles
long. The river sweeping around the town by the
west, in a corresponding curve enclosed it on that
side.
Our division, being the last to arrive, at day-
break of the 22nd, was placed in position near the
center of the line and on and across the Rossville
road, by which we had come.
^ A chain of pickets being established about half a
mile in front of the general line, the troops began
at once to protect themselves in position, by exca-
vating a simple ditch, throwing the earth in a ridge
on the outer side of it, and by the middle of the
forenoon a continuous intrenched line had been
completed. This was from day to day improved
and strengthened, and at intervals quite pretentious
works were constructed of earth, and supplied with
artillery. The enemy appeared about noon of the
22nd, and as they located our picket line, established
theirs conforming to it and from forty to eighty
rods distant, and then formed their lines and estab-
lished their camps nearly parallel and about a mile
and a half from ours ; occupying also the point of
114 The Story of the Second Regiment.
Lookout mountain and the crest ^f Mission Ridge,
and fortifying them.
Here for two months the two armies faced each
other ; the enemy having its Hne of communication
by rail from Atlanta open and unobstructed, was
well supplied with food, while our army, dependent
on a difficult and tortuous route from Bridgeport
over the mountains, was for several weeks reduced
to half rations of food and forage, while clothing
and other supplies could not be got through at all.
Most of the men had lost or thrown away, in the
two days battle, their tents and blankets, and now
these were much needed as the cold w^eather came
on. The exposure to the weather and the poor and
scanty food, with the confinement in the line of
battle camps, rapidly increased our sick roll and
filled the hospitals, while for want of forage the
horses and mules generalh^ became unfit for any
service and many of them perished.
The operations b\' which the "river line" \vas
opened and the situation improved cannot be and
need not be detailed in this narrative, w^hich does
not pretend to be a history of armies or of cam-
paigns. Our men bore the want of proper shelter,
clothing and food with brave and uncomplaining
patience, and with no thought of giving up the
position so dearly won and so important to hold.
Meantime we had some diversions, such as they
were. For a while the fences and spare houses
supplied us with fuel, but these were soon exhausted
and all the shade and fruit trees within the lines
were next consumed, the ground being cleared
Chattanooga and Mission Ridge. 115
quite out to our picket line of everything that
would burn. Then it got to be the habit about
once a week to force back the enemy's picket line
sixty or eighty rods to take in some more trees.
This was usually done at the hour when our
pickets were relieved by fresh details, the old and
new guards joining in the enterprise. The opposing
picket lines got to be on habitually good terms
with each other, and although the enemy always
resisted vigorously any advance upon them, yet,
after the brush was over and the new line estab-
lished, they seemed to bear no resentment, and
would permit our choppers and wagons to work
quite up to our line of sentinels and within easy
musket range without molestation.
The enemy had planted some heavy guns on the
nose of Lookout mountain, and would occasionally
admonish us of their presence bj^ heaving a big
shell into our camps. One of these shells descended
through the roof and two floors of a hospital
building filled with sick and wounded men, but
without harming any one, as it did not explode.
Another one burst over our regiment, mortally
wounding Sergt. Caviezel, of Company "F," and
injuring several others. Soon, however, our camp
sentinels were instructed to watch for the smoke
or flash of the gun and give warning, and as the
shell in its flight was usually visible against the
sky, the men could find shelter if necessary. But,
for want of ammunition, probably, the enemy did
not thus annoj^ us very often, and we gradually
ceased to expect or watch for the "big kettles," as
the bovs called them.
116 The Story of the Second Regiment.
Here the army was reorganized, and when this
was completed we found that the 101st Indiana,
75th Indiana and the 105th Ohio had been added
to the brigade, Col. Van Derveer, of the 35th
Ohio, still cominanding it. In the seven regiments
now composing it, he had in the aggregate less
men than in the four with which he commenced
the battle of Chicamauga, four weeks ago. We
are now- known as the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division,
14th Army Corps, Brig. Gen. A. Baird commanding
the division and Maj. Gen. Geo. H. Thomas the
corps.
On the 19th of October Gen. Rosecrans vacated
and Gen. Thomas assumed command of the Army
of the Cumberland, and Gen. John H. Palmer of
the 14th Corps. On the 20th our reorganized
brigade was assembled and re-encamped in a new
position, our regiment occupAnng w-hat v^as then
known as Hospital Hill, about half a mile in rear
of our former position, and a much more desirable
location. Here we constructed huts, and with the
scanty materials available made them as comfort-
able as we could.
On the 4th of October Maj. Davis, who had
been wounded at Chicamauga, left us on sick leave,
and on the 16th of November Col. George also
started for Minnesota with a surgeon's certificate
of disability and sixty days' leave of absence.
About the 1st of November the new Hne of supplies
by the Tennessee river from Bridgeport was secured
and opened, and soon afterwards full rations and
issues of clothing and camp equipage were realized,
to our sreat comfort and relief.
Chattanooga and Mission Ridge. 117
The topography about Chattanooga is peculiar
and picturesque at all times. It was especially
interesting when occupied by the opposing armies.
In the day time the enemy could look down upon
us in and about the city from the surrounding and
commanding heights of Mission Ridge, Orchard
Knob and Lookout mountain, and doubtless
amused themselves in their idle hours in watching
our movements and speculating when they should
close in upon us and capture us. We in turn could
with the naked eye trace their intrenched lines and
note the location of their big guns and field bat-
teries, and with field glasses could see their men
whenever they appeared in or in front of their lines.
But at night, when the grand semi-circle was
lighted up with the enemy's little camp fires, whose
light was continually intermitted by the squads of
shivering, half clothed rebels standing and moving
around them, the spectacle was one w^e never tired
of watching. Nearly every evening the signal
torches on Lookout mountain and on Mission Ridge
were flashing messages to each other over our
heads and across the valley. Our signal officers
soon picked up their code, and so Bragg's messages
were given to Thomas and Grant as promptly as
to Hardee and Breckinridge. Occasionally a big
gun on Lookout mountain would open out in a
flash like the full moon, and then we suddenly
became interested in locating the fall of the shell,
though the chances were a million to one that it
would not strike anyone's particular position. But
as soon as the supply problem was solved the
preparations for another battle were energetically
118 The Story of the Second Regiment.
pushed, until on the 22nd of November all was
read\'. On the 23rd the Arm}' of the Cumberland
moved out b}' divisions, in battle array, in the
open space between the opposing intrenched lines
east of the cit}^ the men carrying three days'
rations and one hundred cartridges each.
This movement was in plain sight of the enemy
of course, but no special preparations seem to have
been made to oppose it. Some of" the prisoners said
afterwards that they supposed a grand review was
to take place and others that the "Yanks" were
out of wood again and were going to take in a
fresh supply. B}^ a quick rush in the afternoon our
lines were advanced, capturing the enemy's in-
trenched lines on Orchard Knob and along the range
of hills connected wath it. During the night Sher-
man's army crossed the river above Chattanooga,
and next morning got into position for attacking
the north end of Mission Ridge, while Hooker's
army got ready for an assault on the north end of
Lookout mountain.
Hooker's attack was made on the morning of
the 24th, and was so successful that about noon
his troops appeared coming around the nose of the
mountain into plain view from Chattanooga, driv-
ing the enem}^ before them.
Rain and mist soon hid the contending forces
from our sight, but we could distinctly hear the
musketr\' and so trace the advance of our troops
as the "battle above the clouds" went on. By
night fall the mist had cleared away and the two
opposing lines could be located and observed by the
flashes of the muskets, which lighted the slopes of
Chattanooga and Mission Ridge. 119
the mountain like swarms of fire flies. The contest
ended about 9 o'clock p. m., and in the night the
enemy abandoned the mountain altogether, crossing
the valley and reinforcing their lines on Mission
Ridge.
Sherman's attack was made about noon and
was obstinately resisted. He did not make much
progress though he kept at the enemy all day,
compelling him to reinforce that part of his line
heavily.
On the 25th Sherman renewed his attack on the
enemy's extreme right, at the north end of the ridge,
while Hooker descended into the Chattanooga
valley and directed his march towards the enemy's
left, at the Rossville Gap. The enemy in his hasty
retreat had destroyed the bridge over the Chatta-
nooga creek and Hooker had to replace it, which
delayed his arrival at Rossville until about 3
o'clock p. M.
Meantime the enemy vi-^as marching troops north-
ward along the narrow^ roadway on the crest of
Mission Ridge, to strengthen his right against
Sherman, and about noon our division was ordered
to our left to report to him. After marching about
two miles to reach his position it appeared that he
had all the troops that he could use, and we were
ordered back to form as the left division of the
army of the Cumberland, then in position facing
Mission Ridge.
Here our brigade occupied the center of the
division, the first (Turchin's) being on our right,
and the third (Phelps') on our left. Our own
brigade was formed for battle in two lines, of three
120 The Story of the Second Regiment.
regiments each, with the 2nd Minnesota regiment
about three hundred yards in advance and covering
the entire brigade front, with two companies
deploj-ed as skirmishers and six companies as
reserve (companies "E" and "G" being on detached
service).
The official report of the regimental commander,
written on the 30th of November, 1863, describes
the further movements of the regiment as follows,
the entire report being quoted here :
" Headquarters 2nd Regt., Minn. Vols.,
Chattanooga, Tenn., Nov. 30th, 1863.
Capt. J. R. Beatty, A. A. A. G. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division,
14tli A. C.
Captain : In response to circular instructions of this
date from brigade headquarters, I have the honor to submit
the following report of the part taken by the 2nd Minnesota
Infy. Vols, in the operations against the enem3' during the
week commencing November 23rd, 1863.
On Monday the 23rd inst. at 3 o'clock p. M.,the regiment
marched from its encampment in Chattanooga with the
other regiments comprising the 2nd brigade, with three
days rations and one hundred rounds of ammunition per
man, and was placed in line of battle about half a mile
distant from and in front or south of Fort Negley.
The regiment remained in position here until noon of
Wednesday the 25th, when with the brigade it marched to
the left, taking a position to the east of, and about a mile
distant from Fort Wood, and facing the enemy's positions
at the foot of and on the crest of Mission Ridge.
Here the regiment was advanced with two companies
deployed, for the purpose of covering the brigade in its for-
mation and movement towards the enemy's works.
The brigade being formed, a general advance was com-
menced at 3 o'clock p. M. and continiied for a distance of
about three-fourths of a mile without opposition, when the
deploj'ed companies reached the eastern or further edge of a
Chattanooga and Mission Ridge. 121
strip of woods and came in full view of the enemj^'s works;
the remaining companies being about 150 yards in rear of
the deployed line and the remaining six regiments of the
brigade about 300 yards still further back and partially
concealed from the enemy's view by the woods in front of
them.
Immediately in front of the deployed line lay an open field,
the ground descending for a short distance to a small creek,
and beyond it rising gradually for a distance of about a
quarter of a mile to the crest of a low secondarj^ ridge run-
ning parallel to, and about a quarter of a mile distant from
the foot of Mission Ridge. Along the crest of this secondary
ridge was a breastwork of logs, occvipied as the front line
of the enemy's defences by two regiments or battalions of
infantry. Be3^ond it the ground descended with an easy
slope, for a distance of three or four hundred yards to the
foot of the main or Mission Ridge, which rises thence with
a slope, gradual at first, but increasing in abruptness
towards the top, to a height of five or six hundred feet.
Along the crest ol Mission Ridge were the main defences of
the enemj, consisting of a breastwork of logs, fullj' manned
with infantry, and with artillery posted on the more com-
manding points in sections of two guns each at intervals of
from one to two hundred Awards.
The artillery thus placed swept with direct and crossfire
the whole space between the ridges mentioned, and also the
open field across which we had to advance upon the first
breastwork.
In the valley between the main and secondary ridges were
the enemy's encampments, the huts mostly hidden from our
view by the smaller ridge and the breastworks in front of
them.
The space between the ridges had been covered with
woods, but, except the steepest and highest parts of the
main ridge, where the smaller trees had been felled and
"entangled" as an obstacle, the timber had been recently
cut away and used in the construction of huts and breast-
works.
122 The Stoky of the Second Regiment.
After remaining in front of this part of the enemy's line
for some twenty minutes, I received an order from Col. Van
Derveer commanding the brigade, to deploy my entire com-
mand and advance upon the first line of breastworks, to
seize and occupy it if possible; if repulsed to fall back on
the brigade.
The men were briefly informed of the desperate service
required of them, and instructed to withhold their fire, and
to move steadih' forward until the work was gained, and
then defend it to the utmost.
The reserve companies' were then deployed and with
bayonets fixed the whole line commenced the advance. The
enemy opened fire with musketry from the breastworks and
artillery from the main ridge as soon as our line emerged
from the woods, but in the face of both the men moved
silently and steadily forward, across the creek, and up the
slope, until within about one hundred paces of the breast-
work, when, as the pace was quickened, the enemy broke
from behind the work and ran in some confusion down the
slope into and be^'ond their camps, where taking cover
behind the stumps and among the huts they opened a brisk
fire on us again as soon as we gained and occupied the
breastwork.
Our line, now partialh' sheltered b}' the work, returned
the fire with such effect as soon to drive the enemy out of
the valley and up the slope of the main ridge, be\'ond the
range of our rifles.
Our loss in this attack was severe, though probably
much less than would have been suffered by troops advanc-
ing upon the work in regular order of battle. Fourteen
prisoners were taken in this breastwork.
About twenty minutes after the capture of the first work,
the brigade advanced from the woods, and on arriving at
the work halted for a few minutes, when the order was
given for a general assault upon the enemy's defences on
Mission Ridge.
Aly regiment moved forward with the others of the
brigade, assembling on the colors as far as it was possible
on the wa3% until in ascending the steepest part of the slope,
Chattanooga and Mission Ridge. 123
where every man had to find oc clear his own way through
the entanglement, in the face of a terrible fire of musketry
and artiller\^ the men of the different regiments of the
brigade became generally intermingled, and w^hen the
brigade finally cro\vned the enem\''s works at the crest of
the ridge, the regimental and even the company organiza-
tions had become completeh' merged in a crowd of gallant
and enthusiastic men, who swarmed over the breastworks
and charged the defenders with such promptness and vigor
that the enemy broke and fled, leaving their artillery "in
battery," and barely getting away a portion of the caissons
and limbers. Six twelve-pounder Napoleon guns \vere thus
captured by our brigade, two of them by the men of iny
regiment.
Hardly had a lodgment been gained in the works when
the enemy's reserves made a furious counter-attack upon
our men, yet in confusion. This attack was promptly met
by a charge en masse by the crowd, virhich, after a few
minutes of desperate hand-to-hand fighting, cleared the
ridge, leaving the place in our undisputed possession, with
between two and three hundred prisoners captured in the
melee.
The captured artillery was turned tipon the retreating
enemy and manned by volunteei-s from the different regi-
ments, but darkness soon closed over the field and the firing
ceased.
The regiments were assembled, and after collecting and
caring for the dead and wounded, we bivouacked for the
night.
During the operations here recounted, about 150 men of
my regiment, including two entire companies, "F" and
"G," were on detached service, leaving but fifteen officers
and 170 men, 185 in all, present for duty. Of these, one
commissioned officer was killed and three wounded, and
four enlisted men were killed, and thirty-one wounded;
total of casualties, thirt\^-nine, or a fraction more than
twenty-one per cent of the number engaged. Three of
the wounded have since died.
124 The Story of the Second Regiment.
The ammunition expended averaged fifty-two rounds
per man. Of seven non-commissioned officers in the color
guard, all but one were killed or wounded, the color lance
was cut off by a fragment of shell, and the field torn out of
the colors bj^ another.
On the morning of the 26th we drew rations for four
days, and at noon marched in pursuit of the retiring enemy,
a distance of about eight miles, to the crossing of Chica-
mauga creek b^' the Rossville and Gra3-sville road, where
we bivouacked for the night.
On the 27th, at 4 o'clock a. m., we marched again, pass-
ing through Graysville and arriving at Ringgold, Ga., about
10 o'clock A. M., a distance of about eleven miles.
Here an engagement with the rear guard of the enemy
was in progress, and we were formed in line of battle in
readiness to act as occasion might require.
At noon the enemj^ retired, and at night we bivouacked;
remaining in the same position until noon of the 29th, when
we marched for Chattanooga, arriving at 6 p. m., a distance
of eighteen miles.
Of the conduct of the officers and men of the regiment,
under the hardships and privations of the week's campaign
in severe and inclement weather, and v\,'ith insufiicient
clothing, and scanty rations, and especially of their gallant
bearing under fire in the operations of Wednesda}-, I am
incompetent to speak in terms that would do them justice.
The regiment being brought into action, deplo3'ed as
skirmishers, there was better scope for individual acts of
heroism or of cowardice, than would otherwise have been
afforded ; while I witnessed man3'of the former, I am proud
to say that none of the latter have come to my knowledge.
A list of casualties is herewith transmitted.
I am. Captain, very respectfulh-,
Your most obedient servant,
J. W. Bishop,
Leiut. Col., Com'd'g 2nd Minn. Vols."
The brigade commander, Col. Ferdinand Van
Derveer, in his official report states his total force
Chattanooga and Mission Ridge. 125
engaged at 1,679 officers and men, and his total
casualties at 161 killed and -w^ounded.
Separating the 2nd Minnesota' force and casualty
reports from those of the Brigade, we find that the
average loss of the other six regiments was a little
more than eight per cent, while that of the 2nd
was, as before stated, over twenty-one per cent. This
disparity followed naturally from the brigade com-
mander's judicious plan for the attack, which assigned
to our regiment the duty of carrying the first line
of breast works "if we could" before exposing the
other six regiments to the enemy's fire. Doubtless
the aggregate loss in the brigade would have been
much greater had the attack been made b}^ the
whole force, and doubtless, also, the loss in our own
regiment would have been greater and our attack
would have failed, had not our men kept their nerve
and their wind and their cartridges throughout
their steady advance across the open field, reserving
all for the final rush and contest.
The brigade commander acknowledged the gal-
lant service of the regiment in the following
language, which is quoted from his official report:
"Especial credit is due Lieut. Col. Bishop for the
"management of his regiment when skirmishing in
"front of the brigade, and the gallant manner in
"which his command carried the rifle pits at the
"foot of the ridge."
There has been a great deal of discussion as to
who, if any one, ordered the advance from the
first line of breast works, up the main ridge. Gen.
Grant is said to have ordered the advance to the
first line. It is further said that he was surprised
126 The Story of the Second Regiment.
and angry to see the general line of battle climbing
over the first line of breastworks and moving
toward and up the slope, and that he sharply
notified Gen. Thomas that somebody would be held
to account for it ; evident^ he did not think the
assault could possibly succeed.
When we got possession of the first line we found
that while to the enemy, standing in a ditch on
their side of the work, it was a breast high pro-
tection, to us on the other side, it was onh" knee
high and no protection at all against the musketry
and canister that rained down upon us from the
crest of the ridge. We could not go back and we
could not stay there, and without any definite
orders our men began to scatter out toward the
front, taking such casual shelter as the stumps and
old huts afforded, while working up towards the
foot of the main ridge.
While this was going on, and when every one
could see that we ought to move at least to the
actual foot of the slope, where the enemy's artillery
could not reach us except by crossfire, Gen.
Baird, commanding our division, said: "Let the
men go on up the ridge," and thej^ went; the field
ofiicers dismounted, as the slope was there im-
practicable for horses, and presently the whole
Armj^ of the Cumberland hung at the foot of that
ridge like a blue fringe a mile and a half long.
With what expectanc}^ must Grant and Thomas
have watched that slow and toilsome, but sure
and steady moving up of that line of battle until
they could see the colors planted on the log
breastworks along the crest, the bovs in blue
Chattanooga and Mission Ridge. 127
tumbling over it, and the guns turned upon the
routed enem^^ The enemy appeared to be astonished
and disconcerted at our movement up the main
ridge, and they fired wildly, both infantry and
artillery, so that after we reached the foot of the
slope we had but few casualties. If the defenders
had done their duty with coolness and courage,
ever}' man of us would have been shot on the
slope or driven back to the foot of it.
It seldom happens, however, that two lines of
battle face each other with equal nerve and
determination; when one line insists on staying or
advancing, the other gives wa\'. In this case we
wanted that ridge and believed that we could and
would take it, and did; while the enemy, having
just seen us take the first line, and knowing
Hooker's troops were approaching on their left
and Sherman's on their right, seemed to be con-
vinced that we would take the crest also, and they
lost their courage and gave it up without half
defending it. (See Appendix Xos. 21, 22 and 23.)
128 The Story of the Second Regiment.
CHAPTER X.
"VETERANIZING."
Having returned to our camp on Hospital Hill
in Chattanooga on the evening of the 29th of
of November, we enjoyed a comfortable night's
rest under shelter, after the week of bivouacking,
marching and fighting. On the 30th, Companies
*'F" and "G," having been on detached service
cutting timber for and aiding in construction of
bridges and pontoons, rejoined the regiment.
The weather was getting cold and wintr}', but
with fair supplies of clothing, blankets and food,
and with comfortable huts and plentj^ of fuel,
the situation was quite tolerable. The enenu^,
some twenty miles away, seemed quite willing to
let and be let alone. About the 10th of December
large details were sent out to the field of Chica-
mauga to gather and bur}- the dead, who had thus
far been neglected. Major Davis returned from
sick leave on the 15th, bringing a well filled chest
of provisions for the field and staff mess, and
various other luxuries and comforts, which were
much appreciated. The "P. and S." of the 9th
Ohio were invited in, and we made a jolly night
of it.
About this date the announcement was received
from the war department that regiments having
been in service two years or more were invited to
re-enlist for three j-ears, and upon so re-enlisting
would be sent home on thirty da^'s' furlough. This
"Veteranizing." 129
announcement was eminently wise and timely under
the circumstances.
The three years' term of many of the regiments
would expire in the summer of 1864, and it had
become evident that the war w^ould not be ended
within that term. New recruits and new regiments
were coming out slowly, and it had moreover come
to be understood that a veteran regiment was, in
efficiency, much more than equal to a new and
inexperienced one. The proposition was read to
the regiment at dress parade, and the men were
briefly informed b}" the Lieutenant Colonel com-
manding that for himself he intended to continue
in service to the end of the war, if he should live
that long; that the question of re-enlistment was
a personal one, that every man should, w^ith due
consideration, decide for himself, and that having
so decided, his position should be respected what-
ever his decision might be, and that there should
be no distinction or discrimination made or per-
mitted in the regiment between the men who did
and those who did not re-enlist, ever^^ man being
expected to do his own duty faithfulh^ to the end
of his engagement.
The question was taken up by the men, and a
good deal of earnest discussion was had among
them during the next ten days. The\' were, after
two and a half j^ears of service, perfectly familiar
with the rCvStraints and hardships and dangers of
war, and were not to be enticed into re-enlistment
ignorantK'. They longed to return to their homes
in peace, but they were as loyal and patriotic as
when they first responded to the Call to Arms, and
130 The Story of the Second Regiment
they "well knew that their services were as much
needed and more efficient and valuable than they
w^ere in '61.
While the enlisted men were considering the
matter, a question arose as to the intention of the
War Department with regard to the commissioned
officers, they having been mustered anew for three
years at each promotion, many of them within a
few months. ("Officers in service whose regiments
"or companies may re-enlist in accordance with the
"provisions of this order before the expiration of
"their present term, shall have their commissions
"continued, so as to preserve their date of rank as
"fixed by their original muster into the United
"States Service." Par, ix, A. G. O., Gen. Ord. No.
191 — 1863.) The proposition of the government
(see quotation above) was silent or at least
obscure as to this, and on the 19th the regimental
commander visited Gen. Thomas' headquarters to
get an explanation. After some discussion he was
instructed that no re-enlistment was expected of
the officers whose companies or regiments might
veteranize, each officer having to serve three years
from date of his last muster unless sooner dis-
charged, and he was instructed, in case his regiment
re-enlisted, to assign such officers as he might select
to remain with the non-veterans and to take the
others home with the regiment to be furloughed.
Later on, it was held that officers must re-enlist
for three years like the men, to entitle them to go
home with their regiments on "veteran furlough,"
and those declining the re-enlistment and furlough
would be entitled to discharge, as the enlisted men
, 'Veteranizing." 131
were, at the expiration of three years from their
original enhstment. This ruling, however, w^as not
arrived at until after our departure for the North,
and was not made known to us until after our
return from "veteran furlough." It made trouble
for some of our officers, as will appear in the next
chapter.
On the 25th of December the regiment was
reported at headquarters as re-enlisted ; eighty per
per cent (about 300 men) having so decided. This
was one of the first regiments in the army of the
Cumberland to so re-enlist, but several days elapsed
before the proper rolls could be obtained and made
ready for the muster out and in, which took place
on the 29th of December. Meantime, as the writer
was informed, two other regiments were got ready
and mustered ahead of it.
The payment of the troops and procuring trans-
portation and other preparations for going home
consumed several days. The non-veterans, number-
ing about seventy -five men, were formed into a
temporary company, and Capt. John Moulton, of
Company "D," Lieut. H. V. Rumohr, of Company
"G," and Lieut. M. Thoeny, of Company "C,"
were detailed to remain with them. This detach-
ment was assigned to duty, during the absence
of the regiment, as provost guard at division
headquarters.
On the 8th of January, 1864, the regiment
embarked at 3 o'clock in the morning, on the small
steamers Dunbar and Kingston, and arrived at
Bridgeport in the afternoon, distance about forty
miles by river. Here six companies were loaded into
132 The Story of the Second Regiment.
box cars of a train supposed to be ready to start
for Xashville, and the other four companies were
assioTied to follow on another train with like
accommodations. After a leisure^ wait, without any
apparent reason for it, the first train started at 11
o'clock p. M., and arrived at Nashville at noon next
day; while the next train started at 4:30 next
morning, and arrived at Xashville in the evening.
This trip without exercise or fire or warm food, in
the mid-winter, was a pretty severe one, but we
were yet in the war country- and going home,
and there was little grumbling or complaint.
At Nashville we were quartered in a vacant
female seminar}- building, and subjected to another
tedious ^vait of four da\'s for transportation north-
ward. The boys were, however, comfortabh' housed
and fed, and had libert}- to go about the cit}^ as
they pleased within certain hours. At 7 p. m., on
the llth, a train of empty box cars was assigned
to us, in which we had another cold and uncom-
fortable journe\' of eighteen hours, arriving at
Louisville about noon on the 15th, and were
assigned quarters in the military barracks. Here
was fire and shelter and food, and the boys were
just getting to feel warm and happy again when a
detachment of the provost guard appeared, with
orders to permit none of our men to go out until
we were ready to leave the city. These orders, it
appeared, were given b}' the post commander, in the
fear, no doubt, that a regiment of veteran soldiers,
just arrived from the field of war, would sack the
city if not put under restraint. From our point of
view, the proceeding was an outrage not to be
" Yp:teranizing." 133
submitted to for a moment, and a vigorous protest
was entered by the regimental commander, who in
reporting at post headquarters, announced himself
as responsible for the conduct of his men in Louis-
ville as elsewhere, and demanded for them the
absolute freedom of the city with all the liberty
that any citizen could have; that none of them
should be molested or restrained by the provost
guard except for crime or disorderly conduct ; that
the uniform of a veteran soldier should entitle him
to the respect and gratitude of all loyal people ever\'-
where and especialh' of other sol4iers, including post
commanders and provost guards. These demands
were all fully conceded, after a brief argument, and
it is now a pleasant reflection that the conduct of
the men was such as to fully justify all that was
claimed and obtained for them.
Here all needed clothing was supplied for our
midwinter trip to Minnesota, and we took advan-
tage of this opportunity to "turn in" our old
Enfield muskets, which we had been obliged to
carrv since our second equipment. Arrangements
having been made for this, we had a parade march
on the 17th from the barracks to the ordnance
building, carrving for the last time the arms and
equipments with which we had fought Tullahoma
and Chicamauga and Mission Ridge. Many of the
men were loth to part with them, but generally
the expectation of getting new^ and better arms on
our return, was agreeabl}^ entertained. The arms
were stacked, the cartridge boxes unslung and
hung on the bayonets, and we retiirned to the
barracks "40 rounds" lighter and feeling perhaps
134 The Story of the Second Regiment.
more like "furloughed " men than before. Our
orders for transportation to Chicago were here
obtained over the Louisville, New Albany & Chicago
Railroad upon the assurance of the superintendent
that we should have comfortable coaches and a
quick passage. He at first thought box cars were
good enough for soldiers, but we had had enough
of that sort when no better could be had, and now
insisted upon proper transportation, as it was paid
for and we had a right to it. Finally, we were
notified that on Monday morning, the 18th of
January, our train .would be ready and crossed the
Ohio river to the New Albany depot to find a train
of box and cattle cars, some of them bedded six
inches deep with frozen dung, backed down to the
platform for our accommodation. The superin-
tendent was conveniently absent, but he was in-
formed by telegraph that the cattle train would
not answer our purpose and that we would return
to Louisville and ask for transportation by some
other line if passenger coaches were not promptly
provided as promised.
The weather was intensely cold, with wind and
driving snow, and it was a shameful thing to pro-
pose to transport human beings in such weather
and in such cars as were oftered us.
Some hustling was done for an hour or two and
then a message came that the cattle cars were all
a mistake and that coaches would be ready in the
afternoon, and so we waited. About 5 o'clock the
train was made ready and ^ve started in warm,
comfortable cars for Chicago, expecting to arrive
there next morning. Such transportation as that
"Veteranizing." 135
would, however, have been too good for .soldiers,
and we found ourselves at 7 o'clock next morning
within fifty or sixty miles of the Ohio river. The
railroad compan}' seemed to have no wood, no
water, no competent employees or superintendence,
and we spent all that day and all the next night
in alternately waiting in the sidings and in rushing
over the main line at six or eight miles per hour.
On Wednesda}^ morning, thirty-eight hours from
New Albany, our wearj^ train arrived at Crawfords-
ville, Indiana. We had outlived our going^ home
enthusiasm and jollity, and now onl}-^ hoped that
we might reach Chicago perhaps before we
should perish of starvation or old age. Expecting
here the customary Avait of an hour or two at
stations we began to climb out of the cars to shake
the aches out of our benumbed legs and helj) wood
up the engine as usual. But, — had we broken into
heaven, or what ? Here were a hundred genial
faces glowing with welcome, a hundred voices
cheering the veterans, the air filled with hats and
fluttering handkerchiefs. The commander was in-
formed that breakfast was read\' in the depot ;
would he please bring in his men. The bugle called
"attention," the ranks were quickly formed, and
the regiiTjient marched in and down either side of
the long tables loaded with "a feast fit for the
gods." The ladies filled the cups with hot coffee,
with cream, and smiles and pleasant words, while
the gentlemen urged us to "eat hearty, boA^s, you are
more than welcome." These generous and hospitable
people had, it seemed, spent the small hours of the
cold winter morning in preparing this breakfast
136 Thk Story of the Second Regiment.
and in tracing b}^ telegraph our uncertain approach,
so as to have it hot and read}- on our arrival.
Nothing could have been more opportune or more
acceptable, as since the morning of the 18th we
had lived on hardtack and raw bacon, with tank
water. Breakfast over, our band played some of
the popular army music, while the officers and men
said all the gracious things they could think of
in acknowdedgement of the kind and profuse hos-
pitality ; then the commander formally tendered the
thanks of himself and his regiment, the boA^s gave
three hearty cheers for the ladies of Crawfordsville,
and they in turn assembled on the platform and
sang "Rally 'round the Flag, Boys," as w^e
resumed our places in the cars. That Crawfords-
ville breakfast alwa^'s has been and always will
be gratefully remembered by the old boys of the
2nd regiment as long as they shall remember an\'-
thing. Our progress thence to Chicago was some-
what more speedy, only 24 hours being consumed
in the 150 miles, arriving there on the morning of
the 21st. After breakfast at the Soldiers' Home,
we started again by rail for La Crosse, arriving
there at 3 p. m. on the 22nd, where we were again
hospitably entertained. Hence forward our trans-
portation was to be in sleighs hj thp stage
company, but only conveyances for half the regi-
ment were ready; Major Davis, with the band and
four companies were forwarded the same evening,
and arrived at St. Paul early Sunday morning, the
24th of January, 140 miles in 28 hours, which was
considerably better time than we had made on the
New Albany Railroad.
" Vetekanizixg." 137
The Lieutenant Colonel commanding, with the
remaining six companies, left La Crosse twelve
hours later and, except three companies, "A," "B"
and "C," furloughed at Winona, arrived at St.
Paul Sunday evening.
The ladies of Winona gave a hot breakfast to
the first detachment and a supper to the second,
and the people of all the river towns along the
route improved every ojDportunity to show the
bo3's they were welcome.
On Monda\', the 25th, the men dispersed for
their homes, each with thirty da^^s' leave of
absence, which time they doubtless enjo3'ed as the\^
deserved to. Most of the companies had formal
public receptions by their friends on or soon after
arrival home. Among these was Company "A,"
originally commanded by the writer, who was a
guest at their reception at Chatfield on the 5th of
February, 1864. His reply to a formal address of
welcome by Hon. R. A. Jones, is here given as then
reported by the "Chatfield Democrat" as an expres-
sion made at the time of the spirit that had moved
the veterans to re-enlistment :
ADDRESS.
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen:
In behalf of the Chatfield Guards, I thank you for the
kind words of welcome with which you have greeted us
here to-da}-. We prize them as expressions of your personal
good will as old friends and fellow citizens, and we value
them as they indicate your sympathy with our hardships
and 3'our approval of our conduct as soldiers, but more
than all we cherish and treasure them up as they assure us
that 3-0U recognize the justice of the cause and the sacred-
ness of the principles in the defense in which we are engaged.
138 The Story of the Second Regiment.
When traitors in arms menaced and at last openly and
wantonly' assailed the government and the flag, which from
childhood we had been taught to respect and revere, and
under which we, as a people, had become great and glorious
and prosperous and happy be\-ond all precedent in history,
we could have done no less than to pledge, as we did, our
best efforts and if need be our lives in their defense.
After some thirty- months of service in the held, a few of
the one hundred men whom 3"ou sent out with your fervent
blessing in the summer of 1861 have returned to you on
furlough.
Emancipated for a brief season from the stern restraints
and discipline of war, they are to-day enjojnng for the first
time in all those months, the absolute personal freedom of
American citizens.
Thev have exchanged the privations and hardships and
dangers of a soldier's life for the plenty and comfort and
peace and safety of life at home; they come from a countr}-
whose fields are laid waste, and whose society is disorgan-
ized and well nigh destroyed by the blighting breath of war,
to their own loved homes, where industry' finds employment
in all the avocations of civilized life, and where all the
virtues and graces that make societ3'a blessing to mankind,
are in full and healthy play. While 3'ou welcome the
returned, honor the absent and revere the memory of those
who will return no more, ma3' we who enjoy this brief
respite from the arduous duties of the field, find ourselves
at its close, encouraged in spirit and strengthened in num-
bers for the work yet unfinished, b\' our intercourse and
association with vou here at home.
Having signified our own faith in the righteousness and
ultimate and speedy success of our cause b3' renewing our
enlistment in the service, we appeal to 3-ou, to ever3' man
and woman who has an interest in societ3' or in the perpetu-
ation of the blessings of good government, to aid us in
recniiting our ranks from those who have thus far been
spared the privations and hardships of the field. You can-
not love your homes better, 3^ou cannot value the blessings
of peace higher than do we, so long exiled from them.
"Veteranizing." 139
Gladh' would we put off the harness of war and return to
our homes and to our farms and ^vorkshops. Life in the
tented field has not, for us, any such attraction as could
induce us to accept it of choice. No, far from this. We
have re-enlisted not that we love war, or that we are
enamored with the roving, adventurous life of a soldier, but
rather because we love peace and would aid in its speedy
restoration.
We have seen of war all we desire to see, except the end.
Come, join with us then in the final struggle, which shall,
-with the blessing of God, crush the last semblance of vitalit\^
from the already almost prostrate rebellion.
The rebel authorities are making no provision for any
campaign beyond the present one. Everj' able bodied man
within their reach is now by the conscript law a soldier.
They are marshaling in the field for the last great effort, all
their available forces in the full knowledge that to fail now
is to fail completely and finalh\
Let us meet them with a like appreciation of the occa-
sion, and before another winter shall close upon us, the
military power of the rebellion must be destroyed.
This done, it dies, for it has no longer any sympathy or
respect in the hearts of the people it has so fearfullj' cursed.
This done, and the people emancipated from the cruel and
odious tyranny- which has so long fettered them, will them-
selves establish the authority of law and order and give the
old flag to the breeze in every state from Virginia to Texas.
While we all say "God speed the daj,'^ let each of us
acquit himself of his own personal duty in the great work
of restoration, remembering that through sacrifice and
suftering lies the onh- road to the blessings we so earnestly
seek.
The officers, instead of receiving furloughs, had
been ordered to recruiting service, and were aided
everywhere by the enlisted men, who all felt inter-
ested in filling up the regiment, then reduced to
less than half the standard strength.
Headquarters were reopened at Fort Snelling on
14-0 The Story of the Second Regiment.
the25tli of February-, and as the men came in rapidly
the regiment was mustered for inspection and pay
on the 29th, showing besides the 300 veterans about
150 recruits.
In the afternoon of this day, on the invitation of
the ladies of St. Anthony, prominent among whom
were Mrs. and Miss Van Cleve, the wife and
daughter of our first Colonel, the regiment marched
from the fort to that place, where a grand supper,
reception and ball were given in its honor at the
then vacant Winslow Hotel building. The ball
lasted all night and ended with a hot breakfast at
7 o'clock next morning, after which the boys
marched back to the fort, eight miles, arriving
c[uite rested and refreshed. That St. Anthon\' enter-
tainment was another event that still warms the
hearts of the old boys whenever they meet and talk
of old war times.
Two or three days now came of busy prepara-
tion for returning to the front. Aided b\' the active
influence of Gov. Stephen Miller, a complete outfit
of new Springfield rifles, of uniform pattern and
caliber with equipments complete, was obtained,
clothing was issued and transportation ordered.
On the 3rd of March the first detachment of 150
men was started in coaches for La Crosse, another
detachment followed on the 4th, and the remainder,
except the band, on the 5th, all with orders to
rendezvous at La Crosse.
After a busy day on the 6th, the Lieutenant
Colonel, staff and band, left St. Paul on the morn-
ing of the 7th, arrived at Winona at noon on the
8th, where the ladies, who had been entertaining
"Veteranizing." 141
all our men as thej^ passed down, had a warm
dinner ready for us. They now requested that the
band might remain over night and play for them
at a concert to be given in aid of their association
relief fund. This request, they were told, under
the circumstances could not be refused, even if we
had to stop the war to grant it, and the field and
staff went on, leaving the band to follow next
morning. Arriving at La Crosse, the ice was
breaking up, and the crossing v^as a tedious work
of considerable danger and difficulty. It w^as
accomplished, however, without accident on the
9th and 10th, and at 3 a. m. on the 11th we
started b\' railroad for Chicago.
Col. George, who had left us at Chattanooga
four months ago, rejoined the regiment here and
assumed command. After breakfast in the Chicago
Soldiers' Home, on the 12th, the regiment was
forwarded in detachments to Louisville, the last
arriving there early on the 16th, and after a day's
delay proceeded to Nashville, arriving Saturday'
morning, the 19th. The railroads were crowded
with returning veteran regiments and supplies for
the army at the front, and after waiting three
days we got orders to march through to Chatta-
nooga, and moving out of the city four miles,
encamped in the afternoon of the 23rd.
The march was uneventful — an easy one for the
veterans, but a new and tough experience for the
recruits. We arrived at Stevenson on the 5th of
April, and climbing on top of a train of loaded box
cars, proceeded thence by rail to Chattanooga,
where we encamped on the 6th on Chattanooga
142 The Story of the Second Regiment.
creek, and reported our arrival to division head-
quarters, then at Ringgold. On the 9th we resumed
our march, and on the 10th rejoined our old
brigade and division at Ringgold, Ga. Here we
received a most hearty welcome from our non-
veterans, who now rejoined us, and from our old
comrades of the other regiinents. The 9th Ohio,
informed of our approach, and knowing that all
the unoccupied buildings in the town had already
been demolished to build camps for the troops
there, kindly went out the day before our arrival
and pulled down a country church, that we might
have lumber and brick on our camp ground on
arrival.
And here ended our veteran furlough.
CHAPTER XI.
THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.
At Ringgold we found the army comfortably in
camp. Trains were running pretty regularly bring-
ing rations, forage, clothing, camp equipage and
ammunition from Louisville and Nashville, but the
dailv consumption of so large an arm^- was enorm-
ous and the supplies accumulated slowly. Nearly
every train brought also, on the roofs of the loaded
cars, a veteran regiment returning from furlough.
For us the next four weeks were full of business ;
we had about 4-50 men present "for duty," one-
third of them being new recruits without anv real
The Atlanta Campaign. 143
experience as soldiers except that gained in the
march through from Nashville, which was of con-
siderable value in putting them on their soldier legs.
These men had to be taught to handle their arms
and equipments, and instructed in guard and picket
duty and in the school of the soldier, the company
and the battalion. The\' were distributed to the
several companies and paired off with veterans as
much as could be. Daih' drill and exercise, forenoon
and afternoon, with dress parade at "retreat" was
the regular order, varied once a week by a regi-
mental tour of picket duty in front of the enemy.
On the 29th of April our brigade made a recon-
noisance to the front, on which we found and
developed the enemy's line, returning, however,
without casualties, after giving our recruits their
first view of the men in grc}-. This was repeated
on the 2nd of May, the brigade going seven miles
to Tunnel Hill.
On the 6th of May the regiments got ready for
active work by a careful inspection of men and
arms and equipage. The sick and lame were sorted
out and with all surplus baggage sent back to
Chattanooga, the cartridge boxes always filled to
"40 rounds," were carefulh^ examined and the
havresacks supplied with three days' rations, and
the ammunition and supph^ wagons loaded and
packed read}- to follow the troops.
On the 7th the Atlanta campaign began — the
famous hundred days of maneuvering and fighting,
without an hour, b}- da}- or night, of absolute quiet,
all over the field of operations. We broke camp at
4 o'clock A. M. and the troops were soon in motion,
144 The Story of the Second Regiment.
arriving at Tunnel Hill (driving the enemy's skirm-
ishers before us) at noon. Here the enemy was
strongW intrenched and some hard fighting was
done without dislodging him, our own regiment
not being seriously engaged. Next day commenced
the movement of McPherson's corps to the right
and through Snake Creek gap to the enem\''s left
and rear, resulting in his evacuation of Dalton on
the night of the 12th. Another three days of
skirmishing and a flank movement to the right
forced the evacuation of Resaca b\^ the enemy on
the night of the 15th.
On the 16th we bivouacked at Resaca, on the
17th at Calhoun and on the 18th passed through
Adairsville, on the 19th we marched through Kings-
ton and bivouacked b.eside the railroad near Cass-
ville, where we remained three days. Here, on the
21st, our long-time comrades of the Ninth Ohio
were ordered to Cincinnati for muster-out, their
three vears' term having expired. Our men had
spent most of the da\' in visiting and saying "good
bv " to them, and when the\' were ready to leave
our regiment was formed to give them a parting
"present arms" as the}' marched past our front,
followed by three rousing cheers for the heroes and
comrades of Mill Springs, Chicamauga and Mission
Ridge.
On the 23rd we marched four miles, forded the
Etowa river, and six miles farther on bivouacked
at Euharlie creek. For the next eight days we were
in charge of trains in the rear of our general line
of battle. On the 2nd of June we were ordered to
the front, and coming up to the enemy's fortified
The Atlanta Campaign. 145
lines our brigade intrenched a parallel line in his
presence and held it until the 5th, when he evacu-
ated his position. It would be tedious to detail
here the alternate moves, waits and fights of the
next four weeks. Some part of our army was under
fire all the time. So continuous was the uproar of
musketrj^ and cannon, near or remote, and so
accustomed to it did we become, that we came to
ignore it altogether unless actually engaged in it.
Our men ate, slept, wrote letters, played cards and
chuck-a-luck, washed and mended their clothes and
polished their rifles in careless indifference until we
ourselves were called out to make or repel an
attack. If at any hour of the night the din of war
would absolutely cease the unwonted silence would
awaken the sleeping soldiers to wonder what had
happened.
On the 18th of June it was our turn at the
front. We moved at 9 a. m., in the rain, and our
skirmishers soon came to the crest of a low ridge
in full view of the enemy's intrenchment, about
300 or 400 yards away. It was well filled with
infantry and artillery, and they were evidently
quite ready to receive us, their skirmish line having
been withdrawn to their breastworks. Our ridge
commanded the enemy's line, and it seemed im-
portant to occupy it. Presently, indeed, instruc-
tions came from corps headquarters to our division
to estabHsh our line of battle on that ridge if
possible, and in due time the order came to the
2nd Minnesota to mark and entrench a line there
for our brigade front. A skirmish line was detailed,
and the men being carefullv instructed by the
146 The Story of the Second Regiment.
Lieutenant Colonel, each one carr^ying a spade
besides his gun, knapsack, etc., moved briskh' up
to and were hastily aligned along the crest. Then
each man l3^ing down flat with his gun by his side
and his knapsack at his head, commenced excavat-
ing a shallow ditch, throwing the earth up in
front and working towards his neighbor. After
ten or fifteen minutes of lively work a second
detail went out, and, taking the spades, continued
the work while the first resumed their guns and
rested. The enemy kept up a scattering infantry
fire on us, but Ave were making good progress with
no casualties, and would soon have had a contin-
uous line intrenched. Suddenh^ a six-gun batter}-
came rushing up from behind us, and went into
action on the ground we had been intrenching,
nearly running over some of our men who were
working there. It was a showw, but an unfortun-
ate and unnecessary exploit; did no good, and
cost some valuable lives. The enemA^'s artiller^^
immediateh' opened on it and on us every gun
within range, and, they being well protected while
this batter}^ stood exposed, it got much the worst
of the fight, and soon withdrew, having lost a
good many men and horses and being generally
knocked to pieces. Meantime Lieut. Jones was
killed and eleven others of our regiment were
wounded during the few minutes of artiller\^ fight-
ing, and the work of intrenching was necessarily
suspended, the line being close under the muzzles
of our batterj' \vhile in action. It was resumed
immediately after the batter\^ withdrew^ and the
line was completed, but as the enemy continued
The Atlanta Campaign. 147
and increased his infantrx^ firing, we were obliged
to deploy a line to repW to it, which was done
with such effect as to keep the enemy's heads down
and prevent good aiming, so we had but few^ men
hurt by their wild firing.
Gen. 0. 0. Howard, in the "Centurj^" fi:)r June,
1887 (page 454), speaks of this affair as follows,
being a witness of the concluding part of it :
"Here I saw a feat the like of which neyer else-
" where fell under m^^ observation. Baird's division,
"in a comparatively open field, put forth a heav}^
"skirmish line, which continued under a heavy fire
"such a rapid fire of rifles as to keep down a
"corresponding hostile line behind its well con-
"structed trenches, while the picks and shovels
"behind the skirmishers fairly flew until a good
"set of works was made four hundred yards off
"and parallel to the enemy's."
Our line established, we made it so uncomfort-
able for the enemy that at night they abandoned
their position, drawing back to a new fortified
line, with Kenesaw^ mountain as the centre and
key point, and extending from it east and south-
east, west and southwest, covering Marietta and
the railroad from there to Atlanta. Our army
was immediately put in motion and closed up
again to within eas}' musket range of the enemy's
new position, our division being located in front
of the mountain, on which several batteries had
been posted. Our line was intrenched, the usual
ditch and embankment being supplemented by a
breastwork of heavy logs, which, covered and
protected by the earth in front, proved a good
148 The Story of the Second Regiment
protection from artillery fire. All the ground in
our vicinity was covered by the guns on the
mountain, and for a day or two they kept it so
warm with shot and shell as to confine us closely
to the breastworks; but, when the enemy got
tired wasting ammunition and ceased firing, our
little tents were set and the space in the rear and
near the breastworks was occupied by our men in
comparative comfort, a watch being stationed to
give warning whenever a puff of smoke appeared
on the mountain.
The enemy amused themselves two or three times
a day by shelling our camps vigorously' for a few
minutes to see the "Yanks" run for the breast
w^orks. Here the muster out rolls were prepared and
orders obtained for the discharge of our non-
veterans, whose three years term was nearly
expired. Col. George announced his intention to
retire also at the end of his term, and received
orders on the 22nd to go to Chattanooga on the
23rd with the non-veterans, there to be mustered
out. The Colonel's age and ph^^sical infirmity dis-
qualified him for a hard campaign like this, but
he persisted to the completion of his term and left
us at last much to our regret and his own.
About midnight on the 22nd our regiment was
ordered to move about half a mile to the right to
relieve another regiment there which ^vas ordered
elsewhere. It was a bright, still, moonlight night,
and the enemy on the mountain was vigilant and
in the habit of investigating with his artillery
every suspicious movement, so the men were in-
structed to move quietly, keeping their gun barrels
The Atlanta Campaign. 149
covered, all verbal orders and conversation to be
omitted. Our movement was thus safely made,
but, on our arrival, the commander of the regiment
to be relieved woke up his men at long range b}--
shouting the regulation commands in a voice that
could be easily heard b}^ the enemy, who could
also see the glimmer of their muskets in the moon-
light, and before his men were ready to move a
big round flash was seen on the mountain — a few
seconds later another, right in our faces, with a
deafening explosion, and six men at the head of
our regiment lay mangled on the earth. The going
regiment took to the woods without any more
formal orders, and our men took their places in the
breastworks without any further casualties, though
a furious cannonade was kept up for half an hour
or more. One of the men killed was our Sergt. Maj.
P. G. Wheeler, who a few hours later would have
gone to the rear to be discharged. It seemed very
sad that after three years' faithful service without
injur\', he should fall in the last hours of his term.
Next morning at daj'break Col. George and the
one hundred and three non-veterans present with
the regiment got ready to take leave of us, and
with heart}' good wishes and good-byes we parted
with them "for three years or during the \var."
On the 27th our division vv^as placed in reserve
to Davis' division, which was ordered to assault
the enemy's intrenched line. The attack was most
gallantly made, but failed, because the line was too
strong and too well defended, and could not be
carried. The loss in the attacking division was
150 The Story of the Second Regiment.
heavy, but in our division, not seriously under fire,
there were but few casualties.
On the 2nd of July a dietachnient of seventy-eight
drafted men joined us from Minnesota, and were
distributed among the companies.
The enemy evacuated Kenesa\v durino- the night,
retiring, south of Marietta.
On the 4th our brigade was ordered to garrison
duty at Marietta, where we remained eight days.
This was now the gi-and supply depot for the
arm}', and w^e had not only to protect the place
from probable cavalry raids, but unload several
trains a (Xay of army supplies and reload them into
wagons for the front. Our regiment was encamped
on the beautiful lawn of ex-Go v. McDonald's home-
stead, and with a comfortable camp, sufficient
rations, and no marching or fighting to do, \ve
enjo^-ed the week here notwithstanding the hard
work and picket dut}-. The new men were mean-
time kept busy learning the duty of soldiers.
On the 13th our brigade marched nine miles to
the front, rejoining the division, and next dav
another detachment of ninety-eight drafted men
joined us. Here recommendations for promotions
to fill vacant offices in the regiment were made
and forwarded to the Governor of Alinnesota.
[See appendix No. 24.) On the 15th our regiment
was ordered back to Marietta to relieve the 20th
Connecticut regiment as provost and depot guard.
We continued on dut}^ here for five weeks, our time
busily occupied in guard and picket dutv. in
handling commissary and quartermasters' stores
The Atlanta Campaign. 151
and in instructing our 176 new men, who, being
mingled in squads with the veterans, made rapid
progress.
On the 19th of August we marched again to the
front and rejoined our brigade before Atlanta on
the 20th.
Now we were again in the enemy's immediate
presence and our old experience of marching, fight-
ing, intrenching and maneuvering was renewed and
kept up until on the 30th, the final movement
around the enemy's left flank began, culminating
on the 1st of September in the battle of Jonesboro,
fought and won b3' our 14th corps. Our brigade
happened to be in the second line during the fight-
ing, and had but three men wounded, none killed.
The enemy was badly beaten and broken up in the
battle, and about 3 o'clock next morning the Con-
federate army evacuated Atlanta, setting fire to the
storehouses containing their surplus ammunition
and stores which, as we had broken the railroad,
they could not move. The racket of exploding
shells, distincth' heard at our bivouac, reminded us
of the evacuation of Corinth, of which we had like
audible notice, and we knew that at last Atlanta
was ours.
After remaining near Jonesboro two days we
leisurely marched back toward Atlanta, and en-
camped near the city on the 8th of September. We
had left Ringgold on the 7th of May with 451
officers and men present. This number had been
increased by recruits 176, returned from hospital
or detached service, 67, and had been diminished by
killed in battle, 4 ; wounded and sent to the hospital,
152 Till-; Stokv oi" Tin-; Siccond Kkgimkxt.
10; sick and sent to the hospital, 118; discharged
at expiration of service, 108; deserted, 8; transferred,
2; dismissed, 7, leaving pre.sent for duty Se])t. 7th
446 ofhcers and men. Not all the wounded went
to the hospital. (vS'ee list of casualties Aj)j)cudix
No. 25.)
While the regiment rests comfortably a few days
at Atlanta a bit of unpleasant history may be
briefly given. Reference was made in the ])receding
chapter to the absence of any definite understand-
ing at the time the regiment re-enlisted, as to wht'it
was to be done with, or by, the commissioned
ollieers of companies or regiments whose enlisted
men might "veteranize," and the instructions given
to the regimental commander in our cii.sc, under
which three ofllcers were by him detailed to remain
with the non-veterans and the others, except several
sick and absent, were taken to Minnesota with the
regiment, and some of them placed on recruiting
service during the furlough, on the theory that they
would not Ijc held to hiivc re-enlisted. After our
return t(t the front we found that a ruling had
been made that officers of veteran regiments who
accompanied their regiments home on furlough
would be held as re-enlisted from the date of the
veteranizing, and officers declining the furlough
would be entitled to discharge at the end of three
years from the time of original entry into service.
On the l()th of June Col. James ()ef)rge applied for
the discharge of himself and eleven other officers
and one hundred and one enlisted men, non-veterans,
then with tlie regiment (or in the division) whose
time of service would expire within the next month.
TnH Atlanta Campaign. 153
On the l.Sth one of these ollleers was killed in battle.
On the 22n(l ol' June orders were received for Col.
George with the enlisted men, non-veterans, to go
to Chatanooga for muster out. On the 29th, no
orders as to the other offieers who had applied with
Col. George for their discharge, having been received,
six of them renewed their re(|uest lor discharge at
the expiration of their original terms (June 26th
to July Hth), "or as soon thereafter as the exigen-
cies of the service will ])crmit." One of these men
was a few days later wounded in action. Their
second recjuest was a])])roved as the first had been,
1)\^ the regimental and brigade commanders, on the
ground that these officers accompanied the regiment
to Minnesota on veteran furlough in January last
before the order re(|uiring officers to re-enlist, or
retaining in the field those who declined to re-enlist,
had been received, and upon the further ground
that the regiment had been so much reduced by the
discharge of non-veterans that the officers desiring
discharge after having served their three years,
could be now spared.
The response was made to this re(|uest thnt the
Depcirtment Commander had recommended the rJis-
niissnl of these oflicers. A full explanation and
protest was immediately made, and forwarded
through intermediate headquarters to the War
Department by the regimental commander. The
offieers continued in the service, doing their duty
gallantly and efficiently, until just after the smoke
had lifted from the battle field of Jonesboro, an
order was received from the War I)e])artment dis-
honorably dismissing the six offieers for "having,
154 The Story of the Second Regiment.
"whilst their commands were in front of the enemy
"applied to be mustered out, after having availed
"themselves of the furlough granted their regiment
"as veteran volunteers." This order dated back to
July 12th, thus covering with disgrace two months
of faithful service in the enemy's presence, after
their terms had exph'ed. This order had to be, and
was revoked afterwards, and the victims of it
were honorably discharged as of such later dates as
included the whole time actually served ; but it
was a cruel outrage that it ever should have been
issued, even under misapprehension of the facts, for
which they were in no wise responsible.
The remainder of the month of October was
occupied with the usual routine of camp life and
duty, a great deal of attention being given to our
recruits, who were rapidK' becoming soldiers.
Meantime many of the older regiments were, like
ours, becoming reduced by the discharge of non-
veterans at expiration of their original terms of
three 3'ears ; and while all the loyal states were
raising and equipping additional troops to fill the
quotas called for by the President, most of the
governors were organizing them into new regiments,
which were sent to the front, in many cases, under
field and company officers of little or no actual
military experience. Such regiments were of little
use in active service in the enemy's presence,
while if the recruits had been distributed to the
companies of the veteran regiments the new men
would, by association with the veterans and under
the instruction and care of veteran officers, have
soon become efficient and reliable. Gen. Geo. H.
The Atlanta Campaign. 155
Thomas, who had known our regiment, having it
tinder his command for three years, especially
desired to have it filled up to standard strength,
and about the 1st of October the writer, the
Lieutenant Colonel, then commanding the regi-
ment, received a special written request from him
to the Governor ( Stephen Miller ) for the assignment
of two hundred recruits with an order to present
the requisition in person. Leaving the regiment in
charge of Maj. C. S. Uline, he started immediately
for Minnesota.
Next day commenced the northward movement
of Hood's armv, and on the 4-th the regiment, with
its division, began the tiresome tramp over the
familiar ground of the last summer's campaign.
The march was uneventful so far as our regi-
ment was concerned ; it arrived at Gaylesville on
the 21st, and moved thence to Rome on the 30th,
and thence to Kingston on the 2nd of November.
On the 4th our band master, R. G. Rhodes,
arrived with a complete outfit of silver horns from
Cincinnati. He had been sent from Atlanta for
them, with our regimental fund, liberally supple-
mented by private subscriptions b\' the officers of
the regiment. We were all very proud of our band
who had by faithful use of their old instruments
well earned the better ones.
Meantime the Lieutenant Colonel, after a tedious
trip with man\' breaks and delays, had been to
Minnesota, procured the assignment of eighty-eight
men, all that there were then at Fort Snelling
unassigned, and had got back to Chattanooga with
them, just in time to take the last train thence to
156 The Story of the Second Regiment.
the front, arriving at Kingston at eleven o'clock in
the evening of November 11th. The train was
immediately unloaded and returned northward, and
at daybreak next morning the railroad and tele-
graph lines were broken behind us and the troops
started for Atlanta.
Our regiment delayed a little to distribute our
recruits and provide them with rations and ammu-
nition, but marched at nine o'clock and rejoined
our brigade at Altoona in the evening.
CHAPTER XII.
THE iMARCH TO THE vSEA.
Our communications northward by railroad and
by telegraph had been severed behind us, and leav-
ing our old commander, Gen. George H. Thomas, to
take care of Tennessee and of Hood's army, we
turned our faces southward and retraced the now
familiar wa}^ to Atlanta.
On the 14th of November we halted an hour or
two at Alarietta, where we had been on garrison
duty five wrecks in the preceding summer. The
once beautiful village had been sadly devastated
by the passing hostile arinies, and our old camps
in the shaded lawns were hardh' to be recognized.
On the 15th we marched into and through
Atlanta, encamping about two miles east of the
city. Here we filled our cartridge boxes and
haversacks, put on new shoes and clothing, loaded
The March to the Sea. 157
our wagon trains with ammunition and rations of
coffee, sugar and hard tack, and disencumbered
ourselves of all unnecessary baggage and equipage
in preparation for the campaign ; of which the
direction and the duration were not then definitely
known even to the commander himself. The great
buildings in Atlanta that had been used by the
enem}'^ for manufacturing and storing military-
supplies, had been set on fire and the conflagration
had spread over a great part of the town, there
being neither men nor means to confine it. All
that night the burning city lit up the sky, and the
exploding shells and cartridges kept up a nois^^
but harmless cannonade.
Next morning, the 16th, the 14th corps, with
colors unfolded to the mild autumn breeze, and
bands playing the inspiring martial music, filed
out into the road and commenced the now historic
"March to the Sea." Never marched an arm 3^
more confident of success or more competent to
achieve it. The men were mostly veterans of three
years' service, accustomed to everything that
happens to men in war, acquainted and satisfied
w^ith their commanders, and well supplied with
those essentials not to be gathered in the countr\'.
In our own regiment the veterans and the recruits
were about equal in number, but they had been so
mingled in the companies and squads, and the new
men so well instructed by the veterans, that they
w^ere quite competent to take care of themselves
and do any duty of the soldier.
Our course was eastward, parallel and near to
the track of the Georgia railroad ; passing through
158 The Story of the Second Regiment.
Decatur and near Stone mountain, we encamped
early, after an easy march of 15 miles. In the next
day's march we passed through Li-thionia and
Conyers. We halted at noon for lunch, and then
our brigade wrecked two miles of the railroad
track before resuming the march.
This railroad unbuildino- w^as thoroug'hlv and
rapidly done, about as follows : Our regiment,
having stacked arms and unslung knapsacks near
the road, is formed in a single rank outside the
track, facing inwards. The rail joints at each end
of the line being opened, the men all seize the rail
with their hands, and at the " Yo heave" command
they all lift together, raising the rails and ties
gradually up and higher and finalh^ overturning
the entire track. The rails are joined only with
the old style cast iron chairs, and in falling on its
back the track is shaken up and loosened. The
ties are now knocked off and piled upon the road-
bed, cobhouse-wise, a few dry fence rails mixed in
for kindling, the fire is started and the iron rails
being laid across the piles are in a short time red
hot at the centre. A lever and hook is now put
on each end of each rail, and both ends are so
turned in opposite directions and brought down
to the ground as to give the rail at once a spiral
twist and a Grecian bend along its middle third.
Sometimes the boys would give them an extra
heating and wind them around the trees by the
roadside, and at every mile-post the letters "U. S."
in sixty-pound rails were set up to encourage the
loyalty of those who might see and read. Our
cavalrv having broken a bridge some miles ahead
The March to the Sea. 159
of us, we found a locomotive and train of cars at
Conyers ; they were unable to get away before our
arrival — or afterwards.
On the 18th we passed through Covington, a
pretty village, and crossed Yellow river; halted at
noon for lunch and disintegrated our usual two
miles of railroad track.
Resuming the march we halted to rest by the
roadside about 3 o'clock, near a spring, where
vseveral of .our brigades had refreshed themselves in
advance of us. Close by was a comfortable farm-
house with several ladies in the wide veranda who
watched the pranks of the soldiers with much
apparent interest. Presently one of the men in our
leading company noticed that the sods and earth
upon which he was lying had apparent^ been
recently disturbed. Drawing his ramrod he probed
the soft spot with the air of an expert and called
for a spade. A few minutes of liveW work disclosed
a pine box while his comrades crowded around him
speculating as to w^hat valuables it might contain.
The ladies, too, seemed to be excited and anxious
about it — perhaps their money or their .silver spoons
were in peril. The box being carefully uncovered
the top was pried oft and there exposed to view
were the remains of a spaniel dog, rebuking his
disturbers with an odoriferous protest that reached
their consciences by the most direct route. The lid
was replaced, the pit refilled and the earth and sods
carefully replaced and dressed over ready for the
next brigade. Now the lad}^ of the house graciously
remarked that poor Fido was not resting in peace
160 The Story of the Second Regiment.
very much that day; this was the fourth time he
had been resurrected since morning.
On the 19th we turned southward and left the
railroad, directing our march towards jMilledgeville.
The enem}' had destroyed the bridge over Little
river and we had to lay a pontoon bridge, which
delayed our march an hour or two. The day was
rainy and the road slipper\', and the marching
tiresome and uncomfortable. Next da}' v;'e passed
through Shady Dale, and on the 21st the weather was
fine and we made good progress; on the 22nd we
encamped on a plantation, owned by Howell Cobb,
who had been United States Senator and Secretary
of the Treasury, and was then a general in the
Confederate army. Here we loaded a spare wagon
with peanuts, fresh from the ground on which w^e
had camped ; on the 24th we entered Milledgeville,
the capital of Georgia, and remained there encamped
over the next day, which was "Thanksgiving Day,"
and was duW celebrated as such.
We had been eight days on the road from
Atlanta, and thus far had drawn no rations from
our wagon trains except coffee. There had been,
however, no lack of provisions ; it was in that
country- the season of plenty ; there had been culti-
vated by negro labor a most bountiful crop of
corn, sweet potatoes and various vegetables, and
on ever\' plantation were fat cattle, pigs and
poultry in abundance, while the smokehouses were
filled with hams and bacon just cured.
Butter, honey, sorghum, syrup, apples, home made
jelly and preserves and pickles had been also pro-
vided and stored for us, and it wasn't even necessarv
The March to the Sea. 161
to ask for them. Every morning an officer with
a sergeant and ten men (one from each com-
pany) were sent out to provide a day's subsistence
for the regiment. These details were called foragers
and later "bummers." They were of course armed
and kept together, and were thus enabled to whip
or at least "stand off" any party ot the enemv's
cavalry thev might meet. Details from other rejri-
ments, which scattered and straggled, lost a good
many men by capture, but not a single man of
ours was so lost, either from the foragers or the
column during the entire march to Savannah.
These foragers would get as far ahead as thev
could in the first hour or two, then leave the road
and visit the ])lantations, find a wagon or cart or
perhaps a carriage and a single, or pair of, mules or
horses or oxen or cows to haul it, load it with
corn meal, potatoes, ham, poultry and ever\'thing
else thev could find that was edible, and leading a
fat steer or two would return to the roadside, and
"join in" the column as the regiment came along.
The quantit}' and quality of supplies thus collected
by these foragers was more than sufficient, and the
grotesque appearance of the bummers as they lined
the roadside in the afternoon waiting to join their
regiments, was a never failing source of amuse-
ment. They usually went out on foot, but returned
mounted or in carriages, in all styles, from a
creaking, rickety cart with a single mule or steer in
rope traces, to a grand coupe with a blooded pair
in silver mounted harness. The officer in charge
was always instructed to permit no wanton de-
struction of property-, nor firing of buildings, nor
162 Thi-: Story or the Shcond Rkgimknt.
abuse of people at their homes, and as far as is
known to the writer these instructions were
observed b\' our details, but in man\' cases, no
doubt, soldiers who were unrestrained by instruc-
tions or discipline were guilt}' of plundering and
cruelt\% not to be justified even in war, though
such acts could not always be prevented by those
in authority.
During this march it was the rule, as it was in
all other marches, that every man should keep his
place in the column, straggling being in our regi-
ment absoluteh' forbidden ; this for three reasons ;
first, for his own safety, for the straggler was
liable to be captured or killed, as many were, by
the enem3''s cavalr}-, which alwa3's followed and
hung around our rear and flanks ; second, for his
own good, that he might arrive in camp and get
his supper and rest with his comrades, rather than
to fall out, get behind and then have to travel
alone far into the night, perhaps, to find his regi-
ment; and third and chiefl}-, for the sake of good
order and discipline — that in any emergency, alwa\^s
to be expected and prepared for in \var, the regi-
ment should be ready in full strength, every man
in his place.
It was a custom of the regimental commander
to look personalK' to the observance of this rule,
and in the performance of this duty he noticed
one day one of the recruits who, loaded with his
gun and forty rounds, his canteen, haversack,
blankets and a big knapsack, was bravely tip-
toeing along on his sore feet with his company.
A word of encouragement to him brought forth
The March to the Sea. 163
the response "the sjiirit indeed is wilHng but the
flesh is weak," yet he hoped to keep his place, for
he well knew it was easier and better to keep up
than to fall out and get behind and then have to
catch up. This prompted an inquiry of his captain,
who said that the man was private Levi Gleason,
a Methodist minister, a drafted man, a good
soldier and a pleasant good fellow and comrade.
He \vas called to headquarters one evening soon
afterwards, and invited, the regiment having no
chaplain, to preach to us at the next convenient
opportunity. He excused himself for want of
preparation, but finally consented, and on the first
Sabbath of rest in camp the regiinent assembled at
the ''church call" at the Colonel's tent. The
opening exercises w^ere in the usual form, many of
the men joining in singing the familiar hymns;
then private Gleason annotmced his text, "See that
\'e fall not out by the way," and gave us an
earnest, practical discourse, so appropriate and so
illustrated by the common expenence of his hearers
that it "warmed the boys up for good," as one of
them expressed it.
Milledgeville, then the capital city of Georgia,
was an ancient, aristocratic place with handsomely
shaded streets and dwellings, but it wore an air
of quiet decadence and lack of enterprise. The
legislature had hastily adjourned the day before
our arrival, and the Governor had departed with
the members. Gen. Sherman occupied the executive
mansion with army headquarters, while some of
our officers assembled at the capitol and reorgan-
ized the legislature, repealed the ordinance of
164 The Story of the Second Regiment.
secession and adopted a preamble and resolution
declaring the lo3^alty of the State of Georgia to
the Union. All these proceedings being approved
by the provisional governor and duly spread upon
the journals of the two houses, the improvised
legislature adjourned, to meet successively in the
capitals of South Carolina, North Carolina and
Virginia.
On the 25th of November we crossed the Oconee
river, and next day reached Sandersville. On the
27th we crossed the Ogeechee river, and on the
28th arrived at Louisville, where we remained two
days awaiting some movements by the other corps.
The enemy's cavalry, under Gen. Wheeler, had been
very active of late, burning all the bridges ahead
of our column and annoying and capturing our
foragers w^henever they could be taken b}^ surprise.
We could pontoon the streams without much
delay, but did not want our foraging interfered
with ; so Kilpatrick was ordered to punish and
drive away the offenders, and our (Baird's) division
was sent along to support him. Some liveh^
skirmishing occurred during the next three or four
da\'S between the opposing cavalry forces, but
they ke])t out of the w^ay of our infantry, generally,
and we didn't get much fun out of the campaign.
On the 4-th we drove the enemy through and
beyond Wa\'nesboro, and then turned southeasterly,
and on the oth encamped at Alexander. Now
followed several days of unpleasant weather,
obstructed roads and slow progress, with continued
annoyance and skirmishing with the enemy's
cavalry. On the 8th we had quite a brush with
The March to the Sea. IBS
them, in which private George Boyson, of Company
"K," was mortall^^ w^ounded. This day we crossed
the Ebenezer creek as rear guard, and were closely
pressed by the enemy while our bridge was being
taken up. On the 10th we destroyed a section of
the Charleston and Savannah railroad, including a
portion of the trestle bridge at the west bank of the
Savannah river. Now we had left behind us the fine
agricultural country of central Georgia, abounding
in corn, hogs, cattle and sweet potatoes ; had also
passed through a level section of sandy pine lands,
almost destitute of population, improvements or
provisions, and found ourselves among the rice
plantations of the Savannah river and coast region.
The rice crop had been harvested and the thresh-
ing and hulling mills were in operation. These
were fired by the enemy at our approach, but our
cavalry saved one of the threshing mills in the
vicinity of our division, the hulling machinery
being destroyed. So for six or seven days we had
rice in abundance, issued to the troops "with the
bark on." We had rice for breakfast, rice for
dinner, rice for supper and rice the next day
and the next. Rice for the soldiers, for the horses,
for the negroes and for the mules, and for every-
body. The boys exhatisted their ingenuity in con-
triving various w^ays of hulling and cooking it, but
it was always rice, and we got so sick of it that
some of us have never eaten anv of the stuff since.
We were very glad when our regiment w^as ordered
out on the 16th on a foraging expedition, which
promised at least a temporar^^ change of diet. We
went out in a southwesterly direction and loaded
166 The Story of the Second Regiment.
our train with forage; got a few cattle and some
miscellaneous provisions, all there was in the
country, and returned on the 19th; were shelled
b}' one of the enem^^'s batteries at a discance on
our return, and private Stevens, of Company "H,"
was wounded. A wide flooded rice held between
us and the battery made it inaccessible to us, so
we had to leave it behind, much to our regret.
Alean while, Fort McAllister had been captured
bv Hazen's division on the 12th, opening communi-
cation with our fleet, and on our return we found
40 days' accumulated mail in our camp and
two or three days later, provisions and supplies
came in from the fleet by transports ; among these
supplies nothing w^as so welcoine as the Irish pota-
toes, of which v^e had seen none in the past six
wrecks. On the night of the 20th the enem}^ evacu-
ated Savannah and some of our forces entered it at
daybreak on the 21st. Our brigade, however, en-
camped in a pleasant field about a mile from the
line of defences constructed by the enemy about the
city, and our officers and men were permitted to
visit the cit}' and explore the country about it.
Some of them discovered that the oyster beds below
the city had been between the guns of the blockad-
ing fleet and the enemy's shore batteries for two
years and thus had not been fished. A detail of
men with six big army wagons were sent down
there and returned on ChrivStmas Eve with several
hundred bushels of the big and luscious oysters
to enrich our Christmas dinner.
Christmas came on Sunday' and Private Gleason
preached for us again. About this time a request
The March to thk Sea. 167
for his discharge, signed by the Presiding Elder and
other clergymen of the Minnesota Conference, ad-
dressed to the Secretary of War, was b\" that
authorit}^ referred to his regimental commander for
his opinion and report thereon. Now, it was referred
to Private Gleason for his remarks. They were to
the effect that he believed that in his conscription
his place and field of dut}' had been by the Divine
Ruler indicated to him, that he had found ample
opportunity in it to serve Him and do good to his
fellows, and that grateful to his friends for their
kind efforts in his behalf, he did not desire his dis-
charge until the war should end. Then the paper
was returned .to the Secretary of War and, quite
unexpectedly to him. Private Gleason was appointed
Chaplain of the regiment, an office he filled most
acceptably to the final discharge of the regiment.
On the 27th of December the 14-th corps passed
in review before Gen. Sherman in the city of Savan-
nah. Our regiment was especiallv complimented by
him as it well deserved, and a few days later w^as
ordered into the city, and put in charge of the yard
and shops and other property of the Central Rail-
road. The officers occupied the general office build-
ing and the regiment was housed in the great freight
warehouse adjoining the yards.
Here, with daily drills and dress parades in the
park-like streets, and with guard and patrol duty,
we had a pleasant though busy tour of service.
Information was here received of the assignment
of two detachments of recruits from Fort Snelling
to our regiment, one of which had been forwarded
as far as Nashville, and there detained by Gen.
1G8 Thk Story of the Second Regiment.
Thomas until after the battles of the 15th and 16th
of December, in which our recruits participated, and
Maj. C. S. Uline was sent to find and bring them
to the regiment. This he did with all possible ex-
pedition, but we left Savannah before his return
and he joined us later at Goldsboro, N. C. {Sec
Appendix No. 26. )
CHAPTER XIII.
SAVANNAH TO RALEIGH.
On the 23rd of January, 1865, we commenced
the "Campaign of the Carolinas," no less famous
in history than "The March to the Sea."
Of these campaigns the following general re-
marks, by waj' of comparison, may be permitted.
The march through Georgia was made in the forty
days commencing the 12th of November at Kings-
ton and ending with the evacuation of Savannah
on the 21st of December. This was, in that country,
the most agreeable and ever\" way the most favor-
able season of the year for such a campaign. The
weather w^as generally delightful, the roads in good
condition, the streams running parallel with our
course, were always w^ithin their banks and easilv
forded or bridged, and the bountiful harvest, being
just over, there was abundance of provisions and
forage on ever\^ plantation. The march was more-
over a surprise to the enem}-, from which he did
not recover in time to give us an}- serious opposition.
Savannah to Raleigh. 169
The Carolina campaign comprised the s;ixty-three
days ending with the arrival at Goldsboro, Alarch
23rd, including the battle of Bentonville, on the
20th. This was the winter season of cold rains,
with occasional snows, and the roads were usually
bad ; sometimes impassable for loaded wagons and
artillery' until they had been corduroyed by the
troops. The streams w^ere full, often overflowing
their banks, and as they crossed our course at right
angles, much time and labor had to be spent in
bridging them. The enemy had meantime collected,
under active commanders, quite a formidable and
\vell organized force, and disputed our crossing at
every stream, and harrassed and captured our for-
agers at every opportunity'. The sur])lus provisions
and forage had, moreover, during the winter, been
gathered and sent to Lee's arm\' in Virginia or had
been consumed on the plantations, and it required
active work for a detail of thirty men to gather
daily the supplies of food for the regiment. In the
Georgia campaign there had been but little bitter-
ness of feeling tow^ard us displayed b\- the people
at home there and but little wanton destruction or
waste of property' by the soldiers ; in the Carolinas,
and especially in South Carolina, the bummers had
to hunt and fight for everything they got. and they
left nothing behind them that they could burn
or carry off. In the interest of discipline as well as
of humanity the officer in charge of the detail, made
daily from our regiment, was always instructed not
to burn buildings or abuse the resident people or to
take or destro}' property not needed for our own
use, and it is the writer's belief that his men had
170 The St6ry of the Second Regiment.
but small part in the cruel and wanton devastation
that marked the pathway of the army across that
state.
But to resume our narrative within its proper
limits, our regiment marched out of their comfort-
able quarters at the Central Railroad depot at 7 a.m.
on the 20th, and at 10 o'clock encamped at Chero-
kee Hill, eight miles out on the Augusta road, b3'
which we had approached the city a month earlier.
We left this camp on the 25th, and bridging and
crossing one branch of Ebenezer Creek on the 26th
and another on the 27th, passing that day through
the pretty village of Springfield, we encamped on
the 28th near Sister's Ferry on the Savannah river,
about forty miles above the cit\'. Here we remained
a week while a pontoon bridge was being thrown
across the river and a corduroy road built across
the wide and overflowed bottom lands on the South
Carolina side, and while trains and artillery- ^vere
being crossed. On the 5th of February w^e marched
over and, encamping three iniles from the bridge,
waited there while it was being taken up on the
6th ; next day we passed through the smouldering
ruins of Robertsville and Brighton, which had been
burned the day before by our own troops ahead
of us. Our course now lay west of north, parallel
to and a few miles distant from the Savannah
River until the 10th, when we turned a little to the
right and, crossing the Salkehatchie River, arrived
at Barnwell Court House. Our brigade had the
advance to-day, and as we came in sight of the
village an order was received from corps head-
quarters for our regiment to encamp therein and
Savannah to Raleigh. 171
prevent any firing of buildings or any molestation
of the inhabitants. As every house in sight of our
march from Sister's Ferry had been burned, with
no attempt to restrain or prevent the lawless de-
struction, it seemed that a difficult duty had been
assigned to us. Our pace was quickened, and as
we entered the village in advance of all other troops,
guards were stationed at all the houses and the
bummers and stragglers were admonished as the}'
came up to keep in the streets and move on. They
were greath' surprised at this unexpected restraint,
and some of them were not disposed to submit to
it, but no serious resistance was made, and bv sunset
the village was as quiet and peaceful as could be
desired. One commissioned officer who had joined
the bummers announced his purpose to burn the
town anyhow and "he would like to see the guards
that would stop him." He thought better of it,
however, and halted and sneaked off before a
guard's levelled musket, just in time to save his life.
We remained here until noon next day, when, our
corps having passed on, we were ordered to follow.
Before we were half a mile away the village was
on fire in a dozen places, and was no doubt totally
destroyed.
On the 12th we reached the Augusta & Charles-
town Railroad, twenty-four miles east of Augusta.
Here we turned eastward, and spent most of the
afternoon in destroying the track and bridges. This
work was resumed next morning. In the afternoon
we marched about ten miles northerly, to Davis'
Mills, on the South Edisto river, our brigade being-
rear guard of the 14th corps. Next morning, the
172 The Story of the Second Regiment.
14th, we crossed the riv^er and burned the bridge
behind its. Then marched seventeen miles to the
North Edisto. On the 15th we crossed Congaree
creek, at Clark's Mills. The roads were bad and
we had considerable work in corduroying the soft
places and helping the heav}^ wagons out of the
mud. Next da^^ we crossed Twelve Mile Creek, and
passed through the smoking ruins of Lexington
Court House. On the 17th we waited in camp all
the forenoon, while the troops and trains ahead of
us, crossed the Saluda river, which was a wide,
swift and muddy stream, and had been bridged b}^
our pontoniers. We marched about 5 p. m. over
the swaying bridge and on into the night. The
wind was blowing hard and the whole country
seemed on fire. Columbia, six miles awa}^ lighted
up the eastern sky, and the woods and the fences
and buildings and the stacks of straw and forage
were everywhere ablaze. Along the road were
some "deadening" fields in which the pine trees
had been killed b}' girdling and left to decay stand-
ing, while the ground was tilled beneath them. The
fire would climb these dead trees, following streaks
of turpentine or pitch and running out the great
bare limbs, would find the fat pitchy knots and
there burs\ out in flaming torches that seemed to
be suspended in the sky with no visible support. In
some of the regiments that had encamped in one of
these deadenings, some of the men were seriousl}''
hurt by the falling of limbs that had been burned
off the trees over them Columbia was occupied
to-da}' by the 15th corps, and we hear they made
a livelv nig-ht of it there. On the 18th our march
Savannah to Raleigh. 173
was resumed but was slow and tedious, most of
the time being spent in corduroying the bottomless
roads and extricating the wagons from the mud
holes. At night we encamped near the Broad river,
opposite Alston, which was an important railroad
junction, about twenty-five miles north-west of
Columbia. Next morning, Sunday, we crossed the
river and destroyed several miles of railroad track
and burned a train of cars and a depot ; then
attended divine service in camp in the afternoon.
On Monday- we marched northward to Monticello,
and on Tuesday eastward to Winnsboro, on the
Columbia & Chester railroad. Wednesday, the
22nd. we tackled the railroad again and dissected
four or five miles of it.
Our course for a few days had been through a
fine productive country, and forage and provisions
had been plentiful. On the 23rd we moved east-
ward about fifteen miles to the Catawba River at
Rock}' Mount, where our pontoniers were laying a
bridge. The stream was wide and full from the
recent rains, and the current rapid and swirh'. It
required all the available bridge equipment, and
moreover was a work of great difficulty to span the
river with a safe and adequate structure. The 20th
corps had hardly crossed ahead of us when the
bridge was broken by driftwood floating down the
river. The next three days were spent in replacing
it and making and keeping it as secure as possi-
ble, while a crew of men in boats were put in the
river above it to intercept the drift wood and tow
it to the shore. Meantime it rained nearly all the
time, and the roads as well as the streams ^vere
174 The Story of the Second Regiment.
getting worse. Our troops and trains had, how-
ever, been crossing at such times as the bridge
seemed safe, and at 7 o'clock on the evening of the
27th our turn as the rear brigade came to cross.
We Hghted our precarious wa}' with pitch ])ine
torches as we moved down the narrow, winding
bottomless road to the west bank, and gingerh'
walked over the slender, swaying chain of canvass
boats, and then up the slippery hill on the eastern
shore, where we halted and waited for daylight.
We had been delayed here several days, and Sher-
man, who was ahead with the 20th corps, was
getting impatient. The rains continued, but noth-
ing could now make the roads any worse than
the 23rd corps had left them after the passage of
its trains and artillery. We commenced at day-
break, now cutting a new parallel road through
the woods and now corduro\'ing the old one, as
one or the other seemed best, and by working hard
all day forwarded our train three or four miles
while the pontoniers were taking up the bridge.
Next day, March 1st, we made 15 miles, encamping
near Hanging Rock battleground, \vhere Sumpter
and Tarleton met in the Revolutionary' W^ar. On
the 4th we crossed the line into North Carolina,
and on the 5th encamped near the Great Pedee
river at Sneadsboro The six days' march between
the two rivers, with continuous rain and mud, had
been the most uncomfortable and fatiguing of the
whole campaign, and we were not sorr\' to have
one pleasant day in camp while the bridge was
being thrown across the stream. At intervals we
heard explosions down the river, and wondered
Savannah to Raleigh. 175
whether the 15th and 17th corps were having a
battle at Cheraw, or, as we afterwards learned,
were burning some captured ordnance stores.
On the 17th, the bridge having been completed,
we crossed the river at noon, and then the rain
commenced again and continued for three da\'s
more. Our route lay through the piney country of
North Carolina, whose products, as our child's
geographies had told us, were pitch, tar, rosin,
turpentine and lumber. The bummers, as usual,
vset fire to everything that would burn, and our
division arriving one day at a stream swollen
bank full, found its surface covered with flames
and the bridge burning. A turpentine factory a
little way up the stream was on fire, and several
hundred barrels of burning tar and melted rosin
had flowed into the water and spread over the full
width of the stream, making it impossible to cross
or even to approach it. So we bivouacked until
the burning stream cooled oft enough to permit
our reconstruction of the bridge. This incident
delayed the division five or six hours, and we had
to make it up after we got started again. On the
10th our brigade had the lead of the army, and,
as we came in sight of Fayetteville, found the
enemy in our front. Our progress was disputed
for several miles, without, however, much delaying
us, and we entered the city about 11 a. m., driving
the enemy's rear guard into and through and
beyond it, saving the bridge over Cape Fear river
by a lively skirmish and a race for it.
Next day a boat arrived from Wilmington with
dispatches for Sherman. Our regiment was detailed
176 Thk Story of the Second Regiment.
for provost guard and made responsible for good
order and protection of persons and property of the
residents during our occupation of the place. We
had a pleasant tour of duty here with good
weather and some rest. The old U. S. arsenal
which had been in operation for the past four
3^ears making ordinance stores for the Confederate
army was, by Gen. Sherman's order, destroyed ;
the buildings razed and the expensive machinery
broken up.
On the 15th our regimental commander received
orders to burn a large cotton factory- and ware-
house in the city which had been manufacturing
goods for the C. S. army, and this was done, to
the infinite sorrow of the throng of girls and other
operatives who witnes.sed it. On the 16th the
movement of the army towards Goldsboro com-
menced, and the laborious mending of roads and
boosting of wagons was resumed and continued
until we encountered the enem\' in force at Benton-
ville on the 20th. Our brigade was but lighth'
engaged here, but behaved gallantly, our regiment
losing two men wounded. Remaining on the battle-
field one day, our march was resumed on the 22nd,
and next day w^e crossed the Neuse river and
encamped at Goldsboro. Here w^e found Gens.
Terry and Scofield with the 10th and 23rd corps,
all resplendent in new uniforms and well supplied
with camp equipage and regulation army rations.
Our army, in the sixty-three days of hard cam-
paigning, with no opportunity to draw new cloth-
ing or even mend w'hat we wore, had come to
that condition w-hen a sreneral change of dress and
Savannah to Raleigh. 177
a chance to wash off the tar smoke was eminently
desirable. Moreover, understanding that we were
to rest a few days at Goldsboro, our foraging
details had been instructed that day to provide as
large a su])plv of miscellaneous provisions as
possible, and they had l)een unusually successful,
every regiment having at its head the motley
cavalcade of bummers and their equipage well
laden with assorted plunder. As we approached
the city, orders came to close up the column and
prepare to pass in review before Gens. Scofield and
Terry, to whom Sherman, Slocum and Howard
proposed to exhibit the army of which they were so
justly proud. It may be supposed that our own
commanders, in thinking of the splendid achieve-
ments of the army, had ([uite forgotten the
condition it was now in, and that its appearance
as the column passed the reviewing stand was a
surprivse to them as well as to the distinguished
officers invited to review us. At all events the "re-
view" was abruptly discontinued after the first two
or three brigades had p^issed, and we went on to
our camps without further ceremony. After a day's
rest in camp our regiment was ordered out six miles
from Goldsboro to guard and operate a grist mill, in
which vocation we acquitted ourselves creditably, as
usual. Next day we received a mail, the first since
the 5th of February, and supplies of clothing, ammu-
nition and army rations of food were issued to the
men. On the 31st a militarv execution took place
in another division of our corps, the troops being
paraded under arms to witness the sad ceremony.
Without any previous notice, our regiment was
178 Thk Story of the Second Regiment.
carefully and thoroughly inspected on the 1st da}'
of April, by an officer from corps headquarters.
He commended everj-thing but the band. He com-
mended this also ; with their silver horns and
magnificent music, but he reminded the command-
ing officer that regimental bands had long since
been abolished, and he would have to report this
one to the corps commander as unauthorized. It
had to be explained to him that these men were
only the authorized company musicians, and not a
band at all, though the appearance might be to the
contrarj^ and he duh' verified the explanation by
examination of the muster rolls. Then he said that
the corps commander (Gen. J. C. Davis) had often
observed those men and mistaken them for a band,
and suggested that to undeceive him the}^ should
plaj^ at corps headquarters that afternoon, which
they did, and were highly complimented as "com-
pany' musicians." Let it be here said that this
band, since its first organization at Tuscumbia,
Ala., in the summer of 1862, had been under the
same discipline as the companies had been, aKvays
having equal hours of drill and practice, always
marching in their places at the head of the regi-
ment, and alwa\^s ready to pla\' the regiment out
of camp and from a halt, and when in camp the
dress parade and the concert at retreat were never
omitted in good weather.
On the 3rd of April, Maj. Uline rejoined the
regiment with 80 recruits from Minnesota, whose
names filled up our rolls to the number required to
entitle the regiment to a Colonel, so on the same
day Lieut. Col. J. \V. Bishoj), who, nine months
vSavannah to Raleigh. 179
before, had been commissioned Colonel, was must-
ered- as such, and Maj. Uline was mustered as
Lieutenant Colonel, and Capt. John Moulton as
Major. Next day our division was reviewed by
Gen. Scofield, who had for a time commanded the
division in which it was included at Triune, Tenn.,
in the spring of 1863. He personalh' congratu-
lated the Colonel on his new rank and on the
splendid appearance of his regiment. On the 9th
Sergt. Kelsey reported with 59 more recruits which
had been forwarded from Minnesota in November,
'64, and had spent the winter in Gen. Thomas'
command at Nashville, Tenn. On the 10th of
April our army was again in motion, towards
Raleigh, our brigade leading the army of Georgia
twelve miles to Spring"field, driving the enemy be-
fore us all dav. Thev fired the bridge over Neuse
river as they crossed it, and as it had been well
prepared with tar and pitch for burning, we were
unable to save it. Next morning we received the
new^s of the surrender of Lee's arm}^ and the
camps resounded with cheers. Johnston's army
was, however, yet before us, and we went for him
again, moving him back towards Raleigh twelve
miles more, to Clayton. Next da}^ we had a skir-
mish fight all the way to Raleigh, fifteen miles,
arriving there at noon. Our regiment was at once
placed in charge of the state insane asylum there,
and encamped in the ample grou,nds, placing a
chain of guards about it to keep awa\' the bum-
mers, who were ready to turn out the in-
mates, sane or insane, without discrimination or
formalitv.
180 The ^-"toky of thk Second Regiment.
After a day's rest here we marched again on the
15th six miles to Holly Springs and next day six
miles further toward Durham Station. We remained
in this vicinity during the ten days occupied in the
first, and the final negotiations for the surrender
of Johnston's arm}^ which took place at Durham
on the 26th, and of which we were formally in-
formed on the 27th.
We cannot here discuss the terms of capitulation
first offered to Sherman and accepted b}' Johnston
and disapproved at Washington, nor the trouble
among high officers that grew out of them. It maj-
perhaps be said that Sherman with his splendid
army at his back and his old enemy before him,
starved, demoralized and at his mercy, was too
ofcnerous, but what can be said in extenuation of
the treatment accorded to Sherman b\' the Secretary'
of War and by Halleck, whose puerile attempt to
belittle Sherman and magnify himself is an illustra-
tion of mean selfishness in high authority that,
were it not in the authentic record over his own
signature, would hardly be credited.
But now the campaign was over without serious
bloodshed and our rejoicing was unbounded. The
paroling of the surrendered men was assigned to
Gen. Schofield and we returned b}' easy marches to
the vicinity of Raleigh, encamping Saturday-, the
29th, at Page's Station, a short distance west of
the citv.
Richmond, Washington and Homk. 181
CHAPTER XIV.
RICHMOND, WASHINGTON AND HOME.
With the surrender of Johnston's army the war,
so far as we were concerned, was substantial!}' over,
and we all knew that a few weeks, more or less,
would emancipate us from the restraints of military
service and restore us to the peaceful avocations of
civil life.
Orders were received on Sunday, the 30th of
April, to ''prepare for a comfortable and leisureW
march to Richmond." The troops were to carrj-
onh' ten rounds of cartridges, all surplus stores,
ammunition and supplies being turned in for storage
and we were notified that we would be expected at
Richmond about the 10th of May, which \\^ould
make our march about 16 miles a day. This, for a
veteran arm\^ homeward bound, with good roads,
good v^eather and no enemy in the way, was easy
enough. The march was to commence on Monday,
the 1st of May, but on Sunday morning, under
the pretence of changing the troops to more eligible
camps, the Fourteenth corps was led out about 16
miles and encamped at 3 p. m. The remainder
of the afternoon was spent in mustering the men
and preparing the pay rolls (which had to be done
on the last day of ever}- second month) to the ex-
clusion of divine service. The Fourteenth and
Twentieth corps were to march on parallel roads
and there were suggestions that a racing match
had been arranged between the corps commanders,
182 The Story of the Second Regiment.
which, if true, was fooHsh, cruel and unjustifiable,
and if it was not true, the hard marching of the
next six da\'S has never been reasonabh' explained
to our knowledge.
On the 1st of May the revielle sounded long-
before daylight, and we marched at 5 o'clock,
crossing Neuse and Tar rivers and encamping at 6
p. M., after a march of twenty-four miles. On the
2nd we made twenty-two miles, and on the 3rd,
with a delay of five hours in bridging and crossing
Roanoke river at Taylor's Ferr}-, we marched six-
teen miles and encamped near Boj^dton, Virginia.
On the 4th we marched again at 5 o'clock a. m.,
making twent^^-two miles. On the 5th the march
was urged all day long and twenty-eight miles were
covered, and on Saturday", the 6th, twent^'-four
miles. On Sunday, the 7th, twenty miles brought
our division within a mile of the James river at
Richmond, and here orders were received from Maj.
Gen. H. W. Halleck, commanding the department of
the James, directing the approaching troops to
encamp at least six miles south of the city and for-
bidding any officer or soldier from Sherman's army
to enter it unless he had a written pass from his
corps commander. Gen. Sherman, not expecting our
arrival so soon, was absent, and in partial and re-
luctant compliance with these orders, the \vear\^
troops retraced their steps some two or three" miles
and went into camp.
In the next two da\^s a good many of Sherman's
officers and soldiers did visit the city without the
required written pass, greath^ to the vexation of
the provost guards, who were expected to prevent
Richmond, Washington and Home. 183
their cro-ssing the river and to arrest and imprison
all who might be found in the city without proper
authority.
On the 9th, Sherman still being absent, orders
from "Headquarters Department of the James"
w^ere received and published to our arni}^ announcing
a grand review of the Fourteenth army corps in
Richmond on the 10th by the "Major General com-
manding the Department." This order prescribed
with infinite detail the line of march by which the
corps was to be brought into the august presence
of the department commander, the formation of the
troops in the column and the position in which the
arms w^ere to be carried in passing the several
streets, and especially the honors to be paid the
reviewing ofiicer. All baggage wagons and camp
followers and irregulars of every sort were to be
rigorously excluded from the column, and the
soldiers and their arms and equipments were to be
in the highest degree in military order and condition.
Gen. Sherman arrived late that night, but in time
to announce to the troops before daybreak that the
proposed review would not take place as arranged.
Our arrival had been several da^'s earlier than
had been expected, and he now ordered the quarter-
masters and paymasters, who w^ere on the way to
meet us, back to Washington and decided to march
his army through to the Potomac at once. He
seemed to think that we had been suflficiently enter-
tained and refreshed already in the "Department of
the James."
On the 10th our marching orders were received
and next day the Fourteenth and Twentieth army
184 The Story of the Second Regiment.
corps marched through the city in their free-and-easy
"route step," paying no honors to anybody.
Since Johnston's surrender no foraging on the
country had been done, and the bummers had been
gradually reduced to the ranks and to discipline and
order, but on this day's march they were revived
and displayed in unusual exuberance of style, spirit
and equipment. The provost guards who lined the
streets looked on them in wondering amazement,
but the Commander of the Department of the James
was nowhere visible to the naked eye. We marched
twent\-three miles that da^-, crossing Chickahominy
river, and in the thirteen miles next day passed
through Hanover Court House and crossed
Panumkey river. On the 13th we crossed the Rich-
mond & Gordonville Railroad at Chesterfield and
after a morning's march of twelve miles halted at
noon at Childsburg, then we marched four miles
northwesterly and encamped.
On the I4th we marched twenty miles, encamping
near Daniels ville, and on the loth, after passing
through Verdiersville we crossed the Rapidan at
Racoon Ford, nineteen miles. On the 16th we made
eighteen miles, crossing the Rappahannock at Kelly's
Ford and next day marched eighteen miles and
encamped at Bristoe Station on the Orange &
Alexandria Railroad. We were now traversing his-
toric ground and were much interested in noting
places whose names were so familiar in association
with the movements of the army of the Potomac.
On the 18th we passed Manassas Junction, the Bull
Run battle field, and Centreville in a march of
twenty miles, and on the 19th moved our camp
Richmond, W.^shingtox and Home. 185
about six miles to Alexandria. Here, on the 20tli,
seventy-two more recruits from Minnesota joined
the regiment and were distributed to companies,
and the commissaries, quartermasters and pay-
masters supplied our needs in their respective
departments.
Orders were received announcing the Grand Final
Review in Washington of the two great represent-
ative armies, that of the Army of the Potomac on
the 23rd and of Sherman's Army on the 24th of
May, and a day or two was given for rest and
preparation. Our regiment was in splendid con-
dition and well armed and equipped in every par-
ticular. We numbered about 300 veterans of nearh'-
four years' service, and 400 recruits of one j^ear or
less, but these had been so well mingled with and
instructed by the veterans that there was little
apparent diflerence in appearance or efficiency.
There were few, if any, other regiments in our corps
so strong as ours — man}' of them numbered less than
300 men, the policy in most of the states having
been to organize new regiments rather than to fill
up the old ones. Our ten companies, under arms,
averaged about thirty-two files front and to con-
dense the marching column for the review the
smaller regiments were formed into eight or six and
some of them into four companies of about that size.
The Fifteenth, Seventeenth and Twentieth corps
crossed Long Bridge during the night of the 23rd
and bivouacked in the streets about the Capitol to
be in readiness to commence the march at the ap-
pointed hour. The morning of Wednesda}', the 24th,
was clear and sunn}-. Taking an early breakfast in
186 The Story of the Second Regiment.
our own camp, our Fourteenth corps was in motion
at 7 o'clock and after a march of eight miles stacked
arms in the vicinity of the Capitol at 10 o'clock.
The review march had already commenced, but
there were sixty-five thousand men in the column,
which marching briskly consumed six and a half
hours in passing the reviewing stand, so our time
to march out into Pennsylvania avenue did not
come until afternoon.
ProbabU' no more magnificent military displaj^
\vas ever seen than the one that greeted our eyes
as we marched around the Capitol and looked
down the long, straight, broad avenue, filled from
curb to curb with marching troops, the gay
uniforms and glistening muskets and the unfolded
colors all swaying with the rythm of the music as
the regiments with regular, steady step, moved
on. At the great Treasury building the column
wheeled by companies to the right and then
presently to the left, and then the arms were
smartly brought to the "carry" for the "march
past" the President and the high oflScers of the
arm}^ and of the government standing with him.
Ofiicers saluted respectfully as they pas.sed the
stand, and Avhen the rear compan\' of a regiment
had cleared the White House grounds, the arms
were "right shouldered" and the route step
resumed. No halt for rest was permitted, as the
march of the column in the avenue must not be
checked or obstructed by the troops ahead of it,
so we tramped on through Georgetown and across
the Acqueduct Ijridge into Virginia before w^e
had an opportunity to file out of the road and
Richmond, Washington and Ho.mk. 187
stack arms and take breath. When we got back
to our camps at 7 o'clock we had marched t\venty
miles, and were pretty thoroughly tired. Probably
the reviewing officers, who stood for several con-
secutive hours looking at the passing troops, were
also tired, but they did not, as we did, have to
march \vith a soldier's load ten miles to get there
and then ten miles to supper.
On the day after the review our corps left the
old bivouac at Alexandria and moved about ten
miles to find a fresher and cleaner camping ground,
about three miles north of Washington. Here the
officers and men were freeh- given opportunity^ to
visit the city, and, with pleasant weather and
plentiful rations, the time passed rapidK^ and with-
out many events worthy of notation here. Our
old commander, George H. Thomas, visited our
camp on the 23rd of June, and was enthusiastically
received by our regiment and others that had
served with him and under him, in the West.
On the 3rd he reviewed our division, Avhich had
been his original command in 1861, and under his
direction had fought and won the battle of Mill
Springs.
On the 6th of June our (third) division (14th
arm}' corps) was reorganized; and Col. J. W. Bishop
was formally assigned to command the first
brigade, now consisting of the 2nd Minnesota, 18th
Kentucky, 31st Ohio, 101st Indiana and 23rd
Missouri regiments, and on the 9th he assumed
command of the division. Gen. Baird having taken
leave of absence. On the 13th of June his com-
mission as Brigadier General by Brevet, dated
188 Thh Stokv ok thk Siicoxi) Kkgimhnt.
April 9th, 1865, was received and was duly
announced to the regiment. {Sec appendix No. 28.)
In the evening the officers and men of the regiment,
with the band, came to division headquarters
en masse to present their congratulations. Some
twenty-five years later the writer learned that this
appointment had been recommended by his corps
and army commanders from Savannah in Januarv,
1865, and, the commission not having arrived, the
recommendation was renewed in May. {See ap-
pendix No. 29. )
On the l-ith orders were received to move the
division by rail to Parkersburg, on the Ohio river,
and thence by steamers to Louisville, Ky., and the
first brigade was forwarded in the afternoon of
the same day, the remainder of the division follow-
ing next morning. The troops travelled in open
coal cars, which at the time were the only cars to
be had for them, and they woidd have been com-
fortable enough in fine weather, but it rained all
the first night on the road, drenching the men, and
with the coal dust making their beds decidedly
dirty and uncomfortable. Division headquarters
left Washington by ])asscnger train in the evening
of the 15th, and, j^assing the troops on the road,
arrived at Cumberland in time next morning to
have hot coffee su])plied to all the troop trains as
they came along, which was gratefully appreciated
by the tired and hungry men. The division arrived
at Parkersburg on the 1 7th, and next day, Sunday
the ISth, embarked on a fleet of steamers for the
trip down the Ohio river. We had a most delight-
ful voyage, ]iassing Cincinnati at <> v. m. of
Riciii\r()N'i), Wasiiixc.ton and HoisrK. ISO
Monday, arrived at LouivSvillc Tuesday morning,
the 20th, and, nuirching" out on the Hardstown
pike, encamped about four miles south of the city.
Here the next twenty days were passed in \vaitin<j^
the decision of the war department as to our final
discharge. Some of the troops were being sent to
Texas and to other Southern states, and while wa'
knew that the larger part of the army would be
soon discharged, we could not know that we
might not be elected to remain in the service in-
definitely. But orders came at last for our muster
out, and on the lOth of July the rolls were all
read}^ and the final inspection, muster and j)arfulc
was made. Orders relieving all detached dut\' men
had been received, and our camp and garrison
equipage were turned over to the Quartermaster.
The corps commander issued his farewell orders,
directing the regiment to proceed to Fort Snelling,
Minnesota, for final discharge, and accompanied
them with a complimcnLary letter. [AjipencUx Nos.
30, 81 and :iL\ )
The officers of the regiment called on Gen.
Baird, our division commander, in the evening,
and received his ])arting congratulations and com-
mendations. He had, as our division commander
since October, 1S(k), won the liearty respect and
good will of all under his command, and, with all
our eagerness to be released from military duty,
there w^is mingled much of regret at the breaking
up ot all our well established and agreeable
relations as soldiers.
Next morning, the 11th, we marched out of our
camps at (> o'clock, leaving the tents all standing,
190 The Story of the Second Regiment.
and a few minvites later halted at corps head-
quarters, where Gen. j. C. Davis, the corps com-
mander, made us a brief but feeling address, and
said good-by ; then the march was resumed to
Louisville; there we crossed the Ohio river, and at
10 o'clock we left Jefferson ville by train for Chicago,
where on arrival at 6 P. m. next day the regiment
was quartered in the Soldiers' Rest. Early on the
13th we marched through the cit\' and took the
train for La Crosse by way of Watertown, Wis.
Reaching La Crosse at 2 a. m. on the 14-th, we
immediately went on board the steamei' McLellan
for vSt. Paul.
At Winona at 8 o'clock a crowd of people were
at the levee to greet us, and the captain kindly
consented to hold the boat there long enough to
permit us to go ashore for a parade march. The
men were in high spirits, and with our splendid
band and full ranks the regiment marched through
the broad, level streets for an hour or more and
then stacked arms to enable the men to exchange
greetings and congratulations with the citizens
and with their friends, many of whom had come from
interior counties to see us. Winona had hospitably
entertained us on several occasions, and we all
gratefully remembered it.
Next morning, the 15th, we landed at the lower
levee at St. Paul. The city seemed to be having a
general holiday, and crowds of people were on the
bank to welcome us, with bands of music and
salvos of artillery, and a parade of the hre de-
partment iind other organizations. Col. John T.
Averill, of the ()th Minnesota regiment, marshaled
Richmond Washington and Home. 191
the grand procession, and under its escort we
marched in cohimns of platoons up Third street to
Wabasha, and by that street to the Capitol
grounds, where we were received b}^ Hon. John S.
Prince, then Mayor of the city,, and Hon. Stephen
Miller, then Governor of the state, in appropriate
addresses of welcome. Then we were invited to a
bountiful collation which the ladies had spread for
us in the Capitol building and which the}' person-
ally served to the hungry soldiers with gracious
words and kind attentions.
All this over, our march was resumed to the
upper levee, where we re-embarked for Fort Snell-
ing. About 5 o'clock p. m. we were encamped on
the parade ground at that historic post, where
four 3'ears before we had been mustered into the
service. Here w^e were obliged to wait several
days for our final payment. Our camp was en-
livened with visiting friends during the day, and
throngs of people came out ever\' evening from St.
Paul and from Minneapolis to attend our dress
parades. At the close of the last parade of the
regiment, Wednesday evening, July 19th, a brief
farewell address was made to the regiment b\' the
Colonel. The next day, Jul}" 20th, the final pay-
ment was made, the men received their individual
discharges, and the "Second Regiment of Minnesota
Veteran Volunteer Infantry " ceased to exist. The
men dispersed to their homes with a loyal pride in
the record made by the regiment, with a warm
and steadfast friendship for each other as comrades,
and with the satisfaction that comes only from
duty well porf(M'med. " May ( lod bless and prosper
192 Thk Story of the Second Regiment.
them, every one!" was the sincere pra^^er of the
Commander as the men affectionately bade him
good-bv on that bright summer afternoon, and
now, after twenty-five years have intervened with
varied experiences of sadness and of happiness to
us all, he closes the record with the same "God
bless and prosper yon, comrades, every one I"
CHAPTER XV.
CONCLUDING REMARKS.
The war through which this narrative has taken
us ended nearly twenty-five years ago.
A generation of young men born since our muster
out, are now voters and of full age for military
service. Ma.n}- of them are enrolled as members of
the National Guard in the several states and doubt-
less would be as prompt and ready as their fathers
were, to take the field for the National defense if
the countr}' required their services. And probabh'
in any future war of like duration the deplorable
waste and sacrifice of soldiers' lives and health
through ignorance and incompetence of officers and
men under unaccustomed circumstances, would be
repeated. Some things in war have to be personally
learned by experience, and a brief relation of some
of these things will interest old comrades as a
reminiscence, if it does not meet the notice of any
who mig^ht derive instruction from it.
Concluding Remakks. 193
At the President's call our companies were
assembled and recruited at their several local sta-
tions, and when ready were ordered to the general
rendezvous at Fort Snelling to be mustered into
the United States service and to be organized into
regiments. The men and officers of each company
were mutual acquaintances and friends, while they
were strangers to those of other companies, and
this W'ith other obvious causes begot and promoted
a spirit of company pride, which, if they had been
brought together for a few days' encampment and
exercise, or for a short period of service within the
state, would not be objectionable, perhaps indeed
would be desirable as a stimulus for each to do its
best. The rules of promotion were established on
this line at the beginning, under which all vacant
commissions occurring in an}' company were to he
filled by promotion from its own ranks.
When, however, the regiment left the state and
took its place among the hundreds of other regi-
ments in the Grand Arm\' of the United States this
company feeling gave place in great degree to the
larger one of pride and comradeship in the regiment,
and the projiriety of the regimental rule of promo-
tion, \vhich Avas adopted and announced by the
Governor in 1863, became manifest. Under this rule
the vacant commission in an}- company was to be
filled by the senior of the next lower grade in the
regiment, promotions to the grade of Second Lieu-
tenant being made within the company.
Details of entire companies for guard and picket
and fatigue dutv, which were at first the rule,
graduallv were superseded by details of officers and
11)+ TiiH Story ok vt^E Skcono Regiment.
men from all the companies, which promoted better
acquaintance and better discipline, and better dis-
tributed the duty with its casualties and hardships
throughout the regiment.
So the regiment came to be in large degree the
unit of command and administration and maneuver,
in which all the officers and men were personalh'
known to and interested as comrades in each other,
w^hile the company was the family of more intimate
and brotherly relations among the men and more
immediate and personal care and command bj- the
officers ; and the regiment and the company were
thus better and more efficiently handled.
At the beginning it was a favorite scheme to
brigade together regiments from the same state, to
be called the Vermont brigade or the Wisconsin
brigade, etc.. but this was soon discontinued as
unwise and the better plan of mingling the regiments
from the various states together was adopted,
thus, in organizing a National Army, ignoring state
lines. Certain influences effected and maintained
the isolation of the Regular troops in separate
brigades and when practicable in separate divisions,
but this practice was even more objectionable than
the separate brigading of state regiments. If a
regular regiment was in any w^ay superior to the
volunteers, wh\' should not the latter have the
advantage of association with it. If it be suggested
that the regulars might learn of volunteers, why
should they not have the opportunity^ ?
One of the first things the new soldier had to
learn was how intelligently and properly to take
care of himself. Manv of them were mere children
CoxcKuniNG Remarks. 195
in this respect. Accustomed to the comforts and
conveniences of life under different conditions, he
lacked the provident forethought, and the knack of
getting the best out of present circumstances, which
became a habit with the veteran, and was therefore
continually suffering for want of something which
he might have had. Ordered out suddenly on a
hard march his already worn out shoes gave out
the first day. When night came on cold or stormy
his overcoat or blanket had been thrown away to
lighten his load on the march. If the trains were
mired several miles back in the road our recruit
had no food or cooking utensils, though he had
received three days rations that very morning. If
he got overheated on the march or at drill he would
drink a pint of cold spring water at a gulp and
become a candidate for hospital treatment directly.
If he could sneak out of the column on the road he
laid down in the fence corner and took a nap, then
if he were not picked up by the enemy he had to
march alone and weary far into the night to rejoin
his company. If he got sick he got homesick also
and lost his heart and hope and died.
Then the officers from General to Captain were
often as inexperienced as the men, and indifferent
to the comfort and care of their troops. Few of
them knew the weight of a knapsack, haversack,
canteen, gun and "forty rounds," and the marches
were conducted without any intelligent judgment
as to economizing the strength of the troops, and
the camps were not selected with due regard to
convenience and rest. All these things were greatly
im2:)roved with experience. Within the first year ot
19() Thk Story of the Skcond Kkgimkxt.
service in the South our regiment lost from deaths
and discharges resulting from wounds in action
less than two per cent, but in the same time lost
from deaths and discharges for disability resulting
from diseases and hardships, over twenty per cent.
Yet the same regiment made the "Campaign of
the Carolinas " three years later, in mid-winter,
marching 480 miles, foraging on the country chiefl^^
for its rations, with no tents except those carried
on the men's backs, and with one half of its men
recruits of only a few months' service (well
mingled with and instructed by the veterans, ho\^^-
ever) and arrived at Goldsboro with a total tem-
porary loss from its effective present force of onh'
three per cent. Such a record was noc, in this
campaign, reached b}' many regimemcs, but anj--
thing approaching it in the first j^ear of the war
would have been quite impossible for any, in the
then inexperience of officers and men.
As the war went on, officers learned to require
and men to conform to man\' things in the ^va^'S
of regulation and discipline that could not be
applied and enforced with new troops It came to
be understood that somewhere in all the months
of weary marching, maneuvering and campaigning,
there was to come an hour of actual battle, when
the victor}' must be won b^' the arm\' that could
outfight the other. Failing in this emergency, all
else was failure.
To bring a regiment properh' and effectively
into battle it must have several qualities, only to
be developed by long and persistent attention to
CoNCLi'DixG Rp:marks. 197
details, which at times grow tiresome and seem to
be arbitrary and unnecessary.
At the crucial hour the regiment must be present
in full strength and must have its cartridge boxes
full — it must be coherent, not to be broken up and
scattered by something or anything that may
happen to it — and it must be manageable under
all circumstances. Wanting an\' of these qualities,
it is simply a crowd of men of which nothing can
be predicted with certaint}' except confusion and
defeat.
As these things came to be realized, some rules
were adopted and persistently enforced in our regi-
ment, through a season of reluctance and grumb-
ling, until they came to be habitually and cheer-
fuUv observed. One of these was that there should
be no straggling on the march, and no wandering
from camp without permission. To this end, while
in camp the men must be accounted for by the
company- commanders at the several roll calls, and,
if the camp was for more than a day or two,
exercises were had, both to require the presence of
officers and men, and to promote the efficiency, steadi-
ness and manageability of the regiment. While on
the march, men were forbidden to leave the column
except with permission in case of necessity. At
everv halt for rest arms were stacked and absentees,
if anv, were noted and accounted for, or reported.
Relieved of his musket, the tired soldier got his
rest with his comrades, and the march was always
resumed with music by the band, whose members
were also required to keep their places at the head
of the regiment. When we encamped for the night
198 The Story of the Second Regiment.
our men were always on hand for supper and a
full night's rest, or for anj^ duty required.
In the "March to the Sea" we lost not a single
man from straggling or capture, while a good
many were so lost from other regiments.
Our cartridge boxes were frequently inspected
and kept full. Fort\' rounds of .58 calibre is no
lieht load, but the regiments whose men were
allowed to waste or throw them away at their
pleasure, often got into disgrace when suddenly
called on for duty with empty boxes.
The men themselves came to take pride in being
always present and ready, and the records made
by the regiment successiyely at Chicamauga,
Mission Ridge, the Veteran Furlough, the March
to the Sea and the Carolina Campaign, abundantW
justifies the preparation and discipline through
which the}' were achieved .
At the beginning thirteen six-mule ^yagons were
allowed for the transportation of each regiment,
one for headquarters' tents, office and baggage,
one lor quartermaster stores, one for the hospital
outfit, and one for the tents and baggage of each
company. At this rate the wagons occupied as
inuch space in the road as the regiment did, and
when an arm\' corps marched with its brigade, divis-
ion and corps supplies and ammunition trains, in
addition to the regimental wagons, the trains
quite overwhelmed the troops.
So in the spring of 1863. when the "pup tents"
were issued, the regimental trains were reduced to
three wagons, and the other trains were also
reduced, though in a less proportion.
CoNCLl'DlXC, Kli.MARKS. 109
This, in anticipation, seemed to be a great
hardship, but it proved a positive advantage to
the troops. The men now carried what they
needed and, arriving at camp, their comfort did
not depend on the wagons coming in (as they
often did not), and the roads being less encumbered
with trains, the troops made their marches easier
and quicker.
Most of the regimental bands that went out
with the troops disappeared during the first year;
the}- were usualh' good musicians, but poor soldiers,
and, discouraged by the rough wa^-s of war,
neglected b}- the oflficers who should have looked
after them, and despised by the men generally,
they were mustered out as expensive super-
numararies.
Later on, in our regiment, the company- musicians
were organized into a band, of which we were
justK' very proud, and similar action was perhaps
taken in other regiments. A good band, always
present for duty, even in battle, where they should
care for the wounded, is a ver\^ important part of
a regiment, worth all it costs the government in
money or the Commander in care for its discipline
and instruction.
Early in the w^ar issues were made to the
regiments of axes and shovels for repairing roads,
constructing rifle pits and other works of fortifica-
tion, etc. They were habitualh' carried in the trains
until the company wagons were taken away, but
as the trains were usuall}^ in the rear and the tools
in the bottoms of the wagons, they were seldom
available when most needed, and seldom in order for
200 The Story of the Second Regiment.
use when within reach. Later the orders were that
the men should carry these tools in addition to their
regular loads. Under these orders the tools were
invariably "lost" within the first two or three
days, and when suddenly they were wanted in some
emergency, the temper of the general officer was
also lost, to the great discomfort of subordinates.
In our regiment, after some experience of this
kind, a Lieutenant, Sergeant and Corporal, and two
privates from each company were selected and
called the "pioneers." They were all strong, active
and skillful men, were armed only with army
revolvers in the belt, and each of the twenty men
carried an ax and two shovels. They camped and
messed wdth their companies, but marched at the
head of the regiment, alw^a^-s ready for an}^ job in
their line. They were inspected as carefulh' as were
their comrades, and their axes were as keen and
their shovels as bright as good care could keep
them. On the march or in camp the "pioneer call"
b\' the bugler brought this corps promptly to head-
quarters duly equipped, and at a second call four
more men from each compan}-, leaving their guns
with their comrades, joined the pioneers, and it was
a tough job that was not soon disposed of by the
sixty men.
This corps and their effective work attracted con-
siderable attention, and the commander of the 14th
corps, in more than one important emergencv, wit-
nessed and warmW commended their skill and
prompt readiness.
The matter of recruiting and keeping full the
regiments in the field has been already alluded to
COXCLIDING RhMAKKS. 201
in the narrative, but it deserves perhaps further
notice.
The continued call for men in the later years of
the war no doubt fully taxed the Governors of the
several states. To fill the existing regiments
required only individual enlistments, but thev had
ceased to be spontaneous as thc}^ had been in the
beginning, and it was much easier to raise a new
regiment, with the active assistance of men who
expected to be commissioned in it, than to enlist
the same number of men for the regiments alread}^
at the front.
Experienced officers could not usualK- be called
home from the field to recruit new companies or
regiments, and so it often happened that a new
regiment of a thousand men, with officers of little
or no experience, arrived at the front. The War
Department had decreed that, when an old regiment
had less than the standard strength, a vacant
Colonelcy should not be filled, and so in some of
the brigades there were no Colonels in any of the
regiments, and the brigade itself was commanded
by a Lieutenant Colonel, fully competent after three
years experience, to command it.
To assign the new regiment to such a brigade
would not onh' weaken it b}' the large addition of
raw and unwiekU- material, but would place the
new Colonel at once in command of it, which
might in the presence of the enemy result in disaster.
So the new regiment was detached to some post
or other duty, where, as in several instances hap-
pened, John Morgan or some other enterprising
202 The Story of the Second Regiment.
Confederate commander Avould capture the post,
reo^iment, new guns and all.
In Minnesota the practice was to appoint offi-
cers from the older regiments to command the later
ones, and more effort was made to recruit the old
ones than in some other states.
It is a common mistake to think and speak of
the old soldiers as a pitiable lot of physical wrecks
whose disability originated in the military service.
This is far from the truth. A good many men
undoubtedly suffer from such disabilities so incurred,
but man}' of the survivors of the war are indebted
to their military service not only for improved
physical condition, but for such regulation, educa-
tion and development of mind and character as have
largely contributed to their success in civil life, and
no class of men have in the past twenty-five years
been more generalh' successful than the old soldiers.
The four vears training in habits of patience, courage,
self reliance and persistence have given them qualities
which count in their whole after life as no small
recompense for the hardships and exposure of their
arm\' service.
The veterans who survived the war are now old
men, yet the}' are generalh', I think, in better ph\^-
sical condition than the average of other men of
equal age. A soldier's life is, or should be, temper-
ate, and restrained in respect to many vicious
practices and with due care of himself in later years
as in the service, the old soldier should be entitled
to a comfortable passage down the evening tide of
his life as he approaches and enters the Great
Bevond.
APPBNDIX.
[No. 1.]
Adjutant General's Okfick.
St. Paul, April 17tli, 1861.
Capt. J. W. Bishop, Chatfield.
Sir : — With this find three copies of Governor's proclama-
tion and order relative thereto. Will you please get your
compan}' together upon receipt of this and report to me as
to what course they will take as soon thereafter as possible.
I hope to hear from 3'ou soon.
Yours respectfulh',
Wm. H. Acker, Adjutant General.
[Xo. 2.]
TELEGRAM.
St. Paul, Apnl 22nd, 1861.
J. W. Bishop, Chatfield, Minn.,
(Care of John Ball, Winona.)
Fill up at once and drill. Your company is accepted and
under state pay. Await marching orders. I write by mail.
Ignatius Donnelly, Governor, ad interim.
[No. 3.]
Executive Office,
St. Paul, April 22nd, 1861.
Capt. J. W. Bishop, Chatfield, Minn.
Your company is accepted. I have telegraphed a-ou to-
day. You must fill up your ranks at once and be read}' to
march to St. Paul upon receipt of order from Adjutant Gen-
eral which will probably be delivered by a special agent.
Yer3' trul\' and respectfull}'',
Ignatius Donnelly.
204 AlTENDIX.
[No. 4.]
Adjutant General's Office,
St. Paul, Minn., April 26th. 1861.
Capt. J. W. Bishop.
Sir: — You are hereby ordered and required to deliver to
the bearer, ^Ym. H. ShelU', Esq., fift3'-nine rifle muskets, de-
livered to Company "A," 3rd regiment, M. Y. M. at the date
of its organization, and the accoutrements accompanying
the same, for the equipment of the regiment now forming.
John B. Sanborn, Adjutant General.
Chatfieli). April 29th, 1861.
I have this morning received from Capt. J.W. Bishop the
above orders except swords.
\Ym. H. Shelly.
[No. 5.]
Chatfield, May 4th, 1861.
To John B. Sanborn, Adjutant General, etc.
Sir: — I am authorized to tender to 3'ou the "Chatfield
Guards," eighty men, as unconditional volunteers in the
service of the State or of the Federal government, to notif\^
you that the3' are read}- for immediate service and will hold
themselves thus in readiness, and to request that this tender
be placed on file in \-our oflSce, and that the "Chatfield
Guards" may retain their position at the head of the list of
companies already tendered and which were not accepted for
the first regiment mustered in response to the call of the
President. Yerv respectfulU- 3'ours, etc.,
J. \Y. Bishop, Captain Chatfield Guards.
[No. 6.]
Chatfield, June 7th, 1861.
John B. Sanborn, Adjutant General.
Sir: — Hearing that the arms and equipments, ordered
by Governor Ramsey- for the State, have been received at St.
Paul, I venture to express the hope that m^- requisition for
sixt\' stand of arms, with equipments and ammunition, for
the " Chatfield (ruards" ma\' be filled and forwarded at once.
The "Guards" have sent for uniforms at their own ex-
pense and all of the members who reside in this immediate
Appendix. 205
vicinit\' meet for drill every evening at 6:30 o'clock and on
Saturday afternoons. It would add materially to the in-
terest and profit of our drill to have the arms and ammuni-
tion and the boys are getting a little impatient at the long
delay in sending them.
A tender of our company for any honorable service is on
file in your office and the "Guards" v^ill, until the close of
the war, hold themselves always at the "ready."
Yours truly,
J. W. Bishop, Captain "Chatfield Guards."
[No. 7.]
(Adjutant General's report for 1861, page 237.)
Gener.\l Headquarters,
State of Minnesota.
.\djutant General's Office,
St. Paul, June 26th, 1861.
Capt. Bishop, Second Regiment Minnesota Volunteers.
You will take command of the post of Fort Snelling
forthwith and so continue until further orders; and you are
hereb3' announced as such commander and will be olieyed
and res]iected accordingly.
By order of the Commander in Chief,
John B. Sanborn, Adjutant General.
[No. 8.]
CAPTURED FLAGS.
(War of the Rebellion, official records, Series 1, Vol. 7, page
82.)
Headquarters 1st Division,
Department of the Ohio.
Somerset, Ky., February 3rd, 186ul. ^
Brig. Genl. D. C. Buell,
Commanding Department of the Ohio, Louisville, Ky.
General : — I have the honor to forward to you by Cap-
tain Davidson, 10th Kentucky volunteers, six Rebel flags;
206 Appendix.
one captured on the battle field by the 2nd Minnesota reg-
iment, the others taken in the intrcnchments b^'ofiicers and
men of the other regiments. Col. Kise reports that his men
captured three stands of colors, but none have been sent to
these headquarters. I have ordered him to turn them in,
and will forv^^ard them as soon as received. In the box with
the colors is the regimental order book of the 15th Missis-
sippi rifles, and abookof copies of all Gen. Zollicoffer's orders
from the organization of the brigade until a few days before
the battle. I am. General, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
Geo. H. Thomas,
Brigadier General, U. S. Volunteers, commanding.
[No. 9.]
Report of Col. H. P. Van Cleve, commanding reg't.
(War of the Rebellion, official reports, Series 1, Vol. 7, page
95.)
He.\DOI ARTERS 2nD ReGIMENT,
Minnesota Volunteers.
Camp Hamilton, Ky., January 22nd, 1862.
Sir : — I have the honor herewith to submit my report of
the part taken by the 2nd Minnesota regiment in the action
of the Cumberland on the 19th inst:
About seven o'clock on the morning of that day, and before
breakfast I was informed by Col. Manson, of the 10th Indiana
commanding the 2nd brigadeof our division, that the enemy
was advancing in force and that he was holding them in
check, and that it was the order of Gen. Thomas that 1
should form m^' regiment and march immediateh* to the
scene of action. Within ten minutes we had left our camp
and were marching toward the enemy, .\rriving at Logan's
field, by your order, we halted in line of battle, supporting
Standart's battery, which was returning the fire of the en-
em3^'s guns, whose balls and shells were falling near us. As
soon as the 9th Ohio came up and had taken its position on
our right we continued our march, and after proceeding
about half a mile we came upon the enem^-, who were posted
behind a fence along the road, beyond \vhich there v\'as an
open field broken by ravines. The enem}-, o2:)eningupon us, a
Ari'KNDix. 207
galling tire fought despei'ately, and a hand-to-band figlit
ensued, which lasted about thirt\' minutes.
The enemy having met with so warm a reception in front,
and also having been flanked on their left by the 9th Ohio,
and on their right by a portion of our left, who, by their well
directed firedrovethem from behind theirhidingplaces, gave
way, leaving a large number of their dead and wounded on
the field. We joined in the pursuit which continued till near
sunset, when we arrived within a mile of their intrench-
ments, where we rested on our arms during the night. The
next morning we marched into their works which we found
deserted. The enemy had crossed the Cumberland.
Six hundred of my regiment were in the engagement,
twelve of whom were killed and thirty-three wounded.
I am well satisfied with the conduct of my entire com-
mand during the severe and close engagement in which they
took part. Where all behaved so well I have no desire to
make individual distinction.
A'erv respectfullv, vour obedient servant,
H. P. V.\nCleve,
Colonel commanding 2nd Minnesota Volunteers.
[No. 10.]
BATTLE OF MILL SPRINGS.
List of killed and wounded in 2nd Minn.
(Official files. Adjutant General's office, state of Minnesota.)
KILI, KO. WOUNDED — CONTINUED.
Manies. Rank mid Co. Namea. Rank and Co.
H. C. Reynolds Private B O. P. Kenne Private H
Mile Crumb Private B Anton Morgenstern Serg'ut G
Wni. H. H. Morrow Private I) Frank Kiefer Private G
Fred Bohnibach Private G Chas. Schnltz Private G
John B. Cooper Private B Chas. Yanl^e Private G
Andrew Dresco Private B Henry H. Haninien Private G
H. R. Thomjjson Private E Wm. Kemper Private G
Gustave Rommel Private G Geo. Delinning Private G
Fred Stomshorn Private G Henry Clinton Private I
Jacob Warner Private G Thos. McDonongh 1st Sgt. K
Sam. H. Parker Private I F. V. Hotchkiss Corp'l K
Frank Schneider Private I Alex. Grant Corp'lK
WOUNDED. J B. Poineroy Corp'lK
Wm. Markham Capt. B John Benson PrivateK
Tenbroek Stout 2nd Lieut. I Henry F. Cook PrivateK
Ed. Cooper Corp'l B Alex. Partman PrivateK
W. C. Smith Private B W. K. Haskins PrivateK
Ira G. Walden Private B John Smith PrivateK
John Etzel Private B P. S. Barnett PrivateK
Cornelius White Private B Thos Johnson PrivateK
J. B. Chamber Private B G. Plowman PrivateK
John Mabold Private E C. E". Westland PrivateK
J. K. Brown Private E
208 Ai-ri-xDix.
(No. 11.)
Report of Col. Robert L. McCook, Comtnanding Brigade.
(War of Rebellion, Official Records, Series 1, \'ol. 7,
page 93).
Heai)oi'.\ktkks 3kd Brigade, 1st Division,
Department of the Ohio.
Somerset, Januar}^ 27th, 1862.
Sir : — I have the honor respectfully to submit the follow-
ing report of the part which my Brigade took in the battle
ol the Cumberland, on the 9th inst.
Shortly after seven a. m., Col. Manson informed me that
the enemy had driven in his pickets and were approaching in
force. That portion of the brigade with me, the 9th Ohio
and 2nd Minnesota Regiments, were formed and marched
to a point near the junction of the Mill Springs and Cum-
berland roads, and imraediateh^ in the rear of Wetmore's
battery, the 9th Ohio on the right and the 2nd Minnesota
on the left of the Mill Springs road. From this point I
ordered a company of the 9th Ohio to skirmish the woods
on the right to prevent any flank movement of the enemy.
Shortly after this, Col. Manson, commanding the 2.nd brig-
ade, informed me in person that the enemy were in force
and in position on the top of the next hill beyond the
woods, and that they forced him to retire. I ordered my
brigade forward through the woods in line of battle skirt-
ing the Mill Springs road. The march of the 2nd Minne-
sota was soon obstructed b^- the lOth Indiana, which \vas
scattered through the woods waiting for ammunition. In
front of them I saw the 4th Kentucky engaging the enemy,
but evidentU" retiring. At this moment the enemy with
shouts advanced on them about 100 \'ards and took posi-
tion within the field on the hillto]) near the second fence
from the wood.*^. At this time I received your order to
advance as rapidh* as possible to the hilltop. I ordered
the 2nd Minnesota Regiment to move Ija- the flank until it
passed the 10th Indiana and 4th Kentuckx- and then de-
ploy- to the left of the road. I ordered the 9th Ohio to
move through the first corn field to the right of the road
and take position at the farther fence, selecting the best
cover possible. The position of the 2nd Minnesota Regi-
ment covered the ground formerh^ occupied b\' the 4th Ken-
tucky and 10th Indiana, which brought their right flank
within about ten feet of the enemv where he had advanced
Appendix. 209
upon the 4th Kentucky. The 9th Ohio position checked an
attempt on the part of the enemy to fiank the position
taken 133- the 2nd Minnesota and consequently brought the
left wing almost against the enem3', where he was sta-
tioned behind straw stacks and piles of fence rails. An-
other regiment was stationed immediately in front of the
9th Ohio, well covered b\^ a fence and some woods, a small
field not more than sixty 3^ards wide, intervening between
the positions. The enem\^ also had possession of a small
log house, stable and corn-crib, about fiftj- yards in front of
the 9th Ohio.
Along the lines of each of the regiments, and from the
enemy's front a hot and deadly fire opened. On the
right wing of the 2nd Minnesota regiment the contest was
at first almost hand-to-hand ; the enemy and the 2nd Min-
nesota were poking their guns through the same fence.
However, before the fight continued long in this wa3', that
part of the enemy contending wnth the 2nd Minnesota regi-
ment, retired in good order to some rail piles hastih' thrown
together, the point from which thev had advanced upon
the 4th Kentuck3'. This portion of the enem3' obstinately
maintaining their position and the balance remaining as
before described, a desperate fire was continued for about
thirty minutes, with seemingly doubtful results. The im-
portance of possessing the log house, stable and corn-crib
soon becatiie apparent and companies A, B, C and D, of the
9th Ohio were ordered to flank the enem3' upon the extreme
left and obtain possession of the house. This done, still the
enem3' stood firm to his position and cover. During this
time the artillery of the enemy constantly overshot my
brigade. Seeing the superior number of the enem3^ and
their bravery, I concluded the best mode of settling the con-
test was to order the 9th Ohio regiment to charge the
enemv's position with the ba3'onet and turn his left flank.
The order was given the regiment to empty their guns and
fixba3'onets; this done, it was ordered to charge. Everv
man sprang to it with alacrit3' and vociferous cheering, the
enemy seeminglv prepared to resist it, but before the regi-
ment reached him the lines began to give way. But few of
them stood, possibU' ten or tw^elve.
This broke the enemy's flank and the whole line gave
way in great confusion, and the whole turned into a perfect
rout. As soon as I could form the regiments of m3^ brigade
I pursued the enem3^ to the hospital, where 3'ou joined the
advance. I then moved my command forward under orders
14
210 Appendix.
in line of battle to the foot of Moulden's Hill, passing on
the way one abandoned cannon.
The next morning we marched into the deserted works
of the enem3-, and on the following day returned to our
camp. At the time of the first advance of the 9th Ohio, I
was shot through the right leg below the knee. Three
other balls passed through m3^ horse and another through
m\' overcoat. After this I was compelled to go on foot till
I got to the hospital of the eneim'. About the time I was
shot in the leg aid-de-camp Andrew S. Burt was shot in
the side.
Too much praise cannot be awarded to the compan}-
officers, non-commissioned officers and the soldiers of the
two regiments. Notwithstanding the\' had been called out
before breakfast and had not tasted food all day, they con-
ducted themselves throughout like veterans, obeying each
command and executing every movement as though they
were on parade. Although all the officers of the command
evinced the greatest courage and deported themselves under
fire in a proper soldierly manner, were I to fail to specify
some of them, it would be great injustice. Lieut. Andrew
S. Burt, aid-de-camp, of the 18th U. S. infantry; Hunter
Brooke, private of the 2nd Minnesota regiment and volun-
teer aid-de-camp, Maj. Gustave Kammerling commanding
the 9th Ohio; Capt. Charles Joseph, Co. A; Capt. Fred-
rick Shroder, Co. D; Geo. H. Harries, Adjutant, of the 9th
Ohio regiment; Col. H. P. Van Cleve, James George, Lieut.
Col. Alex. Wilkin, Major of 2nd Minnnesota, each displayed
great valor and judgment in the discharge of their respec-
tive duties, so much so, in m^^ judgment, as to place the
country and everv honest friend thereof under obligations
to them.
In conclusion, permit me, sir, to congratulate \'Ounpon
the victory achieved and allow me to express the hope that
your future effi^rts will be crowned with the same success.
Attached you will find the number of the force of my
brigade engaged, and also a list of the killed and wounded.
I am respectfully yours,
Rob't. L. McCook,
Col. 9th Ohio Regiment.
Commanding 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, Dept. of Ohio.
Brig. Gen. Geo. H. Thomas, commanding 1st Division.
Appendix. 211
[No. 12.]
Report of Gen. Geo. H. Thomas, commanding division.
( War of Rebellion, Official Records, Series 1, Vol. 7, page 79. )
Headquarters 1st Division,
Department of the Ohio.
Somerset, Ky., January 31st, 1862.
Captain: — I have the honor to report that in carrying
out the instructions of the general commanding the depart-
ment, contained in his communication of the 29th of
December, I reached Logan's cross roads, about ten miles
north of the entrenched camp of the enemy on the Cumber-
land river, on the 17th inst., with a portion of the 2nd
and 3rd brigades, Kenn\''s batter3' of artillery, and a
battalion of Wolford's cavalry.
*********
About 6:30 o'clock on the morning of the 19th the
pickets from Wolford's cavalr^^ encountered the enemy
advancing on our camp, retired slowly and reported their
advance to Col. M. D. Manson,commandingthe2nd brigade
He immediatelv formed his regiment, the 10th Indiana, and
took a position on the road to await the attack, ordering
the 4th Kentucky (Col. S. S. Fr\') to support him, and then
informed me in person that the enemj' were advancing in
force, and what disposition he had made to resist him. I
directed him to join the brigade immediately and hold the
enem3^ in check until I could order up the other troops,
which were ordered to form iminediately and were marching
towards the held in ten minutes afterwards. The battalion
of Michigan engineers and Company- " A," 38th Ohio (Capt.
Greenwood), were ordered to remain as guards to the
camp.
Upon m\' arrival on the field soon afterwards I found the
10th Indiana formed in front of their encampment, appar-
ently awaiting orders, and ordered them forward to the
support of the 4th Kentucky, which was the only entire
regiment then engaged. I then rode forward myself to see
the enemy's position, so that I could determine what dis-
p'osition to make of m^- troops as the\' arrived. On reach-
ing the position held Ijy the 4th Kentucky, 10th Indiana
and Wolford's cavalry, at a point where the roads fork
leading to Somerset, I found the enemy advancing through
a cornfield and evidently endeavoring to gain the left of the
4th Kentucky regiment, which was maintaining its position
212 Appendix.
in a most determined manner. I directed one of my aides
to ride back and order up a section of artillery and the
Tennessee brigade to advance upon the enemj^'s right, and
sent orders for Col. McCook to advance with his two
regiments, 9th Ohio and 2nd Minnesota, to support the 4.th
Kentucky and 10th Indiana.
A section of Capt. Kenny's battery took position on the
edge of the field to the left of the 4th Kentuck3', and opened
an efficient fire on a regiment of Alabamians which were
advancing on the 4th Kentucky. Soon afterwards the
2nd Minnesota (Col. H. P. Van Cleve) arrived, the Colonel
reporting to me for instructions. I directed him to take
the position of the 4th Kentuck^^ and 10th Indiana, which
regiments were nearly out of ammunition. The 9th Ohio,
under the immediate command of Maj. Kammerling, came
into position on the right of the road at the same time.
Immediately after these regiments had gained their
positions the enemy opened a most determined and galling
fire, which was returned by our troops in the same spirit,
and for nearly half an hour the contest was maintained on
both sides in the most obstinate manner. At this time the
12th Kentuck3' (Col. W. A. Hoskins) and the Tennessee
brigade reached the field, to the left of the Minnesota regi-
ment, and opened fire on the right flank of the enemy, who
then began to fall back. The 2nd Minnesota kept up a
most galling fire in front and the 9th Ohio charged the
enemy on the right with bayonets fixed, turned their flank
and drove them from the field, the whole line giving awa\'
and retreating in the utmost disorder and confusion. As
soon as the regiments could be formed and refill their
cartridge boxes, I ordered the whole force to advance. A
few miles in the rear of the battlefield a small force of
cavalr\' was drawn up near the road, but a few shots from
our artillery (a section of Standart's batter}-) dispersed
them, and none of the enemy were seen again until we
arrived in front of their intrenchments. As we approached
their intrenchments the division was deployed in line of
battle and steadil}' advanced to the summit of the hill at
Moulden's. From this point I directed their intrenchments
to be cannonaded, \vhich was done until dark by Standart's
and Wetmore's batteries. Kenn3''s batter}- was placed in
position on the extreme left, near Russell's house, from
which point he was directed to fire on their ferry, to deter
them from attempting to cross. On the following morn-
ing Capt. Wetmore's battery was ordered to Russell's
Appendix. 213
house, and assisted with his Parrot guns in firing upon the
i'erry. Col. Manson's brigade took position on the left,
near Kenny's battery, and ever}' preparation was made to
assault their intrenchments on the following morning.
The 14tli Ohio (Colonel Steedman) and the 10th Kentucky
(Colonel Harlan) having joined from detached service soon
after the repulse of the enemy, continued with their brigade
in the pursuit, although the\' could not get up in time to
join in the fight. These two regiments were placed in front
in m^^ advance on the intrenchment the next morning, and
entered first. General Schoepf also joined me the evening of
the 19th with the 17th, 31st and 38th Ohio. His entire
brigade entered with the other troops.
On reaching the intrenchments we found that the enemy
had abandoned everything and retired during the night.
Twelve pieces of artillery- with their caissons packed with
ammunition, one batter^' wagon and two forges, a large
amount of ammunition, a large number of small arms,
mostly the old flint-lock muskets; 150 or 160 v/agons, and
upwards of 1,0U0 horses and mules; a large amount of
commissary stores, intrenching tools and camp and garrison
equipage, fell into our hands. A correct list of all the
captured property will be forwarded as soon as it can be
made up and the property secured.
The steam and ferry boats having been burned by the
enemy in their retreat, it was found impossible to cross the
river and pursue them; besides, their command was com-
pletely demoralized, and retreated in gi'cat haste and in all
directions, making the capture in any numbers quite doubt-
ful if pursued. There is no doubt but what the moral effect
produced by their complete dispersion will have a more
decided effect in re-establishing Union sentiments than
though they had been captured. It affords me much
pleasure to be able to testif)^ to the uniform steadiness and
good conduct of both officers and men during the battle,
and I respectfulh'^ refer to the accompanying reports of the
different commanders for the names of those officers and
men whose good conduct was particularh^ noticed by them.
I regret to have to report that Col. R. L. McCook, com-
manding the 3rd brigade, and his aide, A. S. Burt, 18th U. S.
Infantrv, were both severeh' wounded in the first advance
of the 9th Ohio regiment, but continued on duty until the
brigade returned to camp at Logan's cross roads.
Col. S. S. Fry, 4th Kentucky, was slighth^ wounded,
whilst his regiment was gallantly resisting the advance of
214
Appendix.
the enemy, during whieh time Gen Zollieoffer fell from a
shot from his (Col. Fry's) pisto', which no doubt con-
tributed materially to the discomfiture of the enemy.
The enem3''s loss as far as known is as follows: Brigadier
General Zollicofter, Lieut. Bailie Peyton and 190 officers,
non-commissioned officers and priyates killed; Lieut. Col.
M. B. Carter, Twentieth Tennessee; Lieut. J. W. Allen, Fif-
teenth Mississippi; Lieut. Allen Morse, Sixteenth Alabama,
and five officers of the medical staff and 81 non-commissioned
officers and priyates taken prisoners; Lieut. J. E. Patterson,
Twentieth Tennessee, and A. J. Knapp, Fifteenth Mississippi,
and 66 non-commissioned officers and priyates, wounded,
making 192 killed, 89 prisoners not wounded and 68
wounded; total of killed, ^vounded and prisoners, 349.
(Note — Crittenden reports 408 wounded and missing,
w^hich with the 192 dead, buried b}- Thomas, makes the
enemy's loss 600.)
Our loss as follows:
Killed.
Wounded.
Troops.
Officers.
Alen.
Officers.
Men.
10th Indiana
10
2
8
12
6
3
72
1
19
4
4
48
2nd Minnesota
31
9th Ohio
24
Total
1
38
13
194
A complete list of the names of our killed and wounded
and of the prisoners is herewith attached.
I am, sir, yery respectfully, \-our obedient servant,
Geo. H. Thomas,
Brigadier General U. S. Volunteers, Commanding.
Capt. J. B. Fry, A. A. G.,
Chief of Staff, Headquarters, Dept. of Ohio, Louisville, Ky.
Appendix. 215
(No. 13.)
INSPECTION REPORT.
( Official Files, Adjutant GeneraVs Office, State of Minnesota. )
Headquarters Department of the Cumberland,
AIuRFREESBORO, Tenn., February 7th, 1863.
Sir : — The General commanding desires me to state that
he is extremely gratified to learn, that your regiment is
among the number, who may be held up as an example
worthy of imitation. Men who submit to discipline cheer-
full\% and take soldier's pride in their "personnel." he feels
confident can be relied upon in an emergenc}'.
The General desires you to read this letter on parade.
I am, sir, ver3^ respectfully your obedient servant,
(Signed) James Curtis,
Captain 15th U. S. Infantry and A. A. Inspecting General.
To Col. George,
Commanding 2nd Minnesota Volunteers.
[No. 14-.]
COMPLIMENTARY ORDERS.
(Published in St. Paul Pioneer, February 28th 1S63.)
Headquarters 3rd Brigade,
Near Nolinsville, Tenn., February, 1863.
The Colonel commanding the brigade, takes pleasure in
commending the conduct and sturdy valor of Lovilo N.
Holmes and fourteen non-commissioned oflScers and privates
of Company H, 2nd Regiment Minnesota Volunteers, for
the heroic defense made by them near Nolinsville on the
15th inst., against the attack of two companies ot rebel
cavalry numbering one hundred and twenty-five men, and
repulsing them with loss.
This little affair is one of the most creditable of the cam-
paign and deserves to be remembered and cited as worthy
the emulation of all.
The Colonel desires that the names of these worthj' men
and brave soldiers ma\' be preserved.
First .Sergeant Lovilo N. Holmes.
Corporals Sarauel Wright and William A. Clark,
216 Appendix.
Privates Nelson Crandall, James Flannigan, Samuel Les-
lie, Louis Londrash, Charles Liscomb, Joseph Burger, By-
ron E. Pa\', Charles Krause, John Vale, Samuel Loudon,
Milton Hanna and Homer Barnard, have his thanks.
By order of F. Van Derveer,
Colonel commanding 3rd Brigade.
John R. Beattv,
A. A. Adjutant General.
[No. 15.]
GENERAL STEEDMAN'S REPORT.
(Refers to No. 14.)
{War of Rebellion, Official Records, Vol. 22, Part 1, page
49, Series 1.)
Report of Brig. Gen'l James B. Steedman.
Concord Church, February 15th, 1863.
Colonel: — A forage train often wagons from m3- com-
mand, with escort of two companies of infantry; and while
four of the wagons guarded by 13 privates under the com-
mand of a Sergeant, were being loaded one and a half miles
from Nolinsville, were attacked b^- one hundred and fift^'
rebel cavalry. The Sergeant immediately formed his men,
took shelter in a cabin near the wagons and repulsed them,
wounding five, three of whom I have prisoners, killing four
horses, capturing three horses, seven saddles and three guns.
Two of our men were slightly wounded.
Very respectfully,
James B. Steedman,
Brigadier General Third Division.
Colonel. C. Goddard,
Assistant Adjutant General and Chief of Staff.
[No. 16.]
BATTLES OF CHIC AM AUG A.
Report of Col. James George, commanding regiment.
( Official Files, Adjutant General's Office, State of Minnesota. )
Headouarters 2nd Regiment,
Minnesota Volunteers.
Chattanooga, Tenn. Sept. 25, 1863.
General: — I have the honor to transmit the following
report of the part taken by the 2nd regiment of Minnesota
Appendix. 217
volunteers in the battles of the 19th and 2()th inst. near
Crawfish Spring, Georgia :
The regiment was placed in position at ten o'clock a. m.
on the 19th on the extreme left of the brigade and next
battery "I" 4th U. S. artillery, facing the south. A few
minutes later the enemy approached in front in line to about
300 yards and opened a heavy fire of musketry, which was
returned with such effect as to repulse the attack ; in about
ten minutes another attack was soon after made and met
with a like repulse, the enemy falling back in disorder,
entirely out of sight.
About half-past ten o'clock sharp firing of musketry was
suddenly opened at some distance in our left and front which
soon began to approach us. The cartridge boxes had been
replenished, and the regiment was laid down in line to await
its time; the men having been admonished to withhold their
fire until the enemA- should be within close range.
There soon appeared approaching in disorder from the
left front a line of our troops in full retreat and closely pur-
sued bj' the enemj' who was cheering and firing furiously in
their rear. It proved to be the regular brigade, the men of
which passed over our line and were afterwards partially
rallied in our rear and on our left.
As soon as these troops had passed us, the further ad-
vance of the enemj' was checked by a volley from our line.
A sharp contest with musketry followed which resulted in
a few minutes in the complete repulse of the late exultant
enemy, who fled from our front in confusion.
About eleven o'clock a large force was discovered advanc-
ing on us from the east and simultaneously from the north.
Oiir front w^as immediatel}' changed to the left to meet this
attack, and after a few minutes fighting the enem}- seeming
to be moved around to the northward ; our front was again
changed to the left, under a hot fire, so that the regiment
faced the northeast, and again finally to face the north as
the enemy massed his troops for an assault from that direc-
tion. The enem\- charged desperately and were finalU' com-
pletely repulsed and routed after a brief but bloody contest.
The fighting ended with us at about 11:30 a. m. Our loss
was eight killed and forty-one wounded, including two com-
missioned officers. None missing. The regiment commenced
the battle with 384 officers and enlisted men.
On the 20th the regiment took place in the brigade with
295 officers and men, forty men having been detached for
218 AprExnix.
picket duty the previous evening and not relieved when the
regiment marched.
At ten A. M. the regiment, on the right of the brigade was
advanced into an open field to the support of a batterv
which was in action immediateh' on our right, the line fac-
ing the east. Scarceh^had the line been halted in its assigned
place when a furious fire of musketry and artillery was
opened on it from the edge of woods bordering the field on
the north and 300 or 400 A'ards distant. The brigade front
was instanth' changed to the left, the movement being made
in good order, though under fire, and our line at once opened
on the enem^'. After a few minutes firing a charge was
ordered, and we advanced on the double-quick across the
field and into the woods, driving the enemy back upon their
supports. Here the engagement was continued for fifteen or
twent\' minutes, when the enem\' moved off bv their right
flank, clearing our front and getting out of our range, even
when firing left oblique. The regiment was then withdrawn,
and the brigade reformed facing north.
Presently an artillery fire was opened on us from the east,
and our front was changed to face it. After remaining here
in position for about half an hour, we were moved off a dis-
tance of a mile or more to a hill on the right of our general
line of battle, where at 2:30 p. m. we again became hotly
engaged with musketry. The enemy charged repeatedh' and
desperately on our position here, but were repulsed by the
cool and deadly fire of our rifles ; the firing here continued
without intermission until 4:45 p. M., when the enemy tem-
porarih' withdrew from the contest. Two other attacks
were afterwards made on us here, but both were repulsed
and darkness ended the fight at about 6:30 p. M.
Our loss on this da\'was tw^ent^'-seven killed and seventy-
two wounded, being more than one-third of our entire num-
ber. None missing. Some eight or ten men of other com-
mands \vho joined us temporarily were killed while braveU*
fighting in our ranks. I regret that I cannot give their
names and regiments.
The conduct of the oflScers and men of my regiment was
on both da3'S uniformly gallant and soldier-like beyond
praise. If an3- one of them failed in doing his whole dut}' I
do not know it.
Assistant Surgeon Otis Ayer, and Hospital Steward A.
Buckingham, were captured from field hospital Sept. 20,
Appendix.
219
and are prisoners in the hands of the enem\'. A good por-
tion of our wounded men were left lying on the field and are
now prisoners in hands of the enenn-.
I am General, very respeetfulU',
Your most obedient servant,
[as. George,
Commanding 2nd Minn. Vols.
[No. 17.]
BATTLES OF CHICAMAUGA.
List of the killed and wounded in the Second Regiment,
Minnesota Vols., during the late battles near Chatta-
nooga, Tenn., Sept. 19th and 20th, 1863.
{Official Files, Adjutant General s Office, State of Minnesota.)
Name. Rank and Co.
John B. Davis Major
Peter G. Wheeler. ..Sergt. Maj.
Abram Kalder Sergt. A
Thos. Fitch Corpl. A
M. D. E. Runals... .Private A
OziasM.Work " A
Eben E. Corliss " A
Chas. A. Edwards. " A
Manle3' S. Harris .. " A
D. M. Morse " A
Chas. A. Rouse " A
Fred. H. Russell.... " A
Robt. Smalley " A
Abram Harkins Captain B
M. V. Dietre Corpl. B
A. V. Doty Private B
John L. Kenney " B
Granville Farrier... " B
Wm. Swan " B
Manning Bailey.... " B
E. V. Comstock " B
F. Kelsey " B
Chas. Lane " B
C. J. Lange " B
J. C. Kitchell " B
David Bush " B
H.G. Smith " B
Nature of Wound.
F^lesh wound, temple.
Flesh wound, chin.
Slight, in arm.
Severely, in nose and arm.
Severeh', in left lung.
Severely, in boch- and leg.
Slight, in head.
Slight, in hand.
Slight, in hand.
Severely, in face and arm.
Severely, in head.
Severely, in arm.
Severely, in body.
Comp. fracture, right arm
Severely, in leg.
Fracture, left leg.
Severely, in leg.
Severely, in leg.
Severel3', in arm.
Slight, in hand.
Slight, in hand.
Slight, in shoulder.
Slight, in shoulder.
Slight, in head.
Slight, in arm.
Slight, in shoulder.
Slight, in head.
220
Appendix.
Name. Rank and Co.
M. Thoenv 2nd Lieut. C
Wm. Mills 1st Lieut. C
M. L. Devereaux...Sergt. C
J. J. Cassedaj^ Corpl. C
A. Hochstetter " C
P. Grunenwald " C
C. Matti " C
M. Rowhan " C
T. D. Oreutt " C
G. H. Ames Private C
J.B.Gere " C
John Fern " C
C. Alden " C
D. C. Morgan " C
A.R.Hall Sergt. D
S. B. Holship " D
E. B. Nettleton Corpl. D
G.M.Gilchrist Private D
W. H. Wilev " D
G. W. Fowler " D
John Spring " D
Felix Carriveau " D
Henry Vessev " D
Chas' Clewett " D
Ben Sylvester 1st Sergt. E
A. A. Stone Sergt. E
Solon Cheadle Corpl. E
Nicholas Sons " E
Eli Huggins " E
I. W. French Private E
James Flora " E
James Spencer " E
Lewis Swenson " E
James Smith " E
Joseph Smith " E
Peter M. Freteufif.. " E
Samuel Bowler " E
W.L.Jones " E
Edwin Knudson.... " E
Benj. Warrant " E
G. W. Wallace 1st Sergt. F
Paul Caviezell Sergt. F
Henry Oaks Private F
Thus. A. Tiernan... " F
Nature of Wound.
Slight, in wrist.
Slight, in arm.
Slight, in shoulder.
Slight, in hip.
Slight, in head.
Slight, in left side,
Severely, in leg.
Slight, in foot.
Slight, in leg.
Slight, in leg.
Mortal, in both knees.
Slight, in arm.
Slight, in leg.
Slight, in leg.
Severely, in breast.
Slight, in head.
Slight, in arm.
SevereW, in bod3^
Severely, in head.
Severelj^ in hand.
Severel3r, in hip.
Severely, in hands.
Severely, in leg.
Severely, in arm.
Severeh^ in left arm.
Severely, in leg and hip.
Slightly, in foot.
Slighth^ in leg.
Severely, in wrist.
Severel3^, in shoulder.
Severelj^ in side.
Severely, in both legs.
Slightly, in shoulder.
Slighth', in arm.
Slightly, in side.
Severel)', in hand.
Severely, in leg.
Severely, in shoulder.
Slightl3-, in head.
Severely, in hips.
Severely', in right shoulder
Slightly, in thigh.
Severely, in head.
Severely, in foot.
Appendix.
221
Name. Rank and Co.
Jas. M. Thornton. .Private F
Joseph Bird " F
Michael McCarthy " F
H. V. Rumohr 1st Sergt. G
J.A.Smith Corpl. G
Henry Bush " G
Peter Douthiel Private G
Peter Fre\'man " G
Chas. Janke " G
Geo. Reed " G
Bateus Weber " G
Thos. G. Quayle ....2nd Lieut. H
Josiah Keene Sergt. H
Milton Hanna Corp. H
John S. Hilliard " H
A.B.Rose " H
Saml. Loudon Private H
S.A.Mitchell " H
Chas. Krause " H
Byron E. Pav " H
Cyrus W.Sm'ith.... " H
Lewis Londrosh.... " H
E. T. Cressev " H
Albert GeseL " H
Albert Parker Corpl. I
Adam Wickert " I
H. T. Whipple Private I
W.S.Wells " I
C. C. Handy " I
Isaac Lavman " I
D. S. Coverdale 2nd Lieut. K
John R. Barber Corpl. K
Robt. McClellan.... Private K
Edwin Baird " K
V. R. Barton " K
Lyman S. Martin.. " K
John McAlpin " K
Henry Roberts " K
John Shouts " K
Wm. Hamilton " K
John C. Smith " K
Samuel Fleming " K
Chas. Fewster 1st Sergt. A
Norman E. Case.... Corpl. A
Nature of Wound.
Severeh', in foot.
Slightly, in thigh.
Slightly, in leg.
SevereU', in nose.
Severely, in arm.
Slightly, in
Severely', in shoulder.
"Severely, in head.
Severely, in hands and leg.
Slightl3% in thigh.
Severely, in side.
Slighth', in left hip.
Severely, in left arm.
Severely, in leg.
Severely, in leg.
Mortalh', in hip.
Slightly, in leg.
Severely, in leg.
Mortally, in body.
Severely, in shoulder.
Severely, in arm and foot.
Slightly, in hand.
Slightly, in shoulder.
Slightly, in foot.
Severely, in thigh.
Slightly, in side.
Severely, in foot.
Severeh% in thigh.
Slighth', in finger.
Severely', in arm.
Slightly, in left hip.
Slightly, in finger.
Mortally, in body.
Severel^^ in arm.
Severely, in hand and leg.
Severely, in arm.
Severely, in body and leg.
Severely, in side.
Severel}-, in side.
Severel}^ in w^rist.
Severely, in shoulder.
Slightlv, in knee.
Killed."
222
Appendix.
Name.
Rank and Co. Nature of Wound.
C. S. Cutting
.Corpl.
B Killed.
S. D. Calvert
.Private
B
A. H. Palmer
"
B
S. Tavlor
"
B
F. I. Crabb
"
B
J. McAuliff
.Sergt.
C
Jacob Martig
.Private
C
C. Schilt
'
C
S. B. Neros
C
Wm. Dudley
.Sergt.
D
John Sherburne
.Corp.
D
Alfonso Bogan
.Private
D
Geo. H. Fry
,.lst Sergt.
F
D B. Griffin
.Corpl.
F
Cornelius Holland. Private
F
Herman Raduentz
"
G
Charles Schuele
"
G
Jacob Seibert
"
G
Francis T.Sutorius "
G
John M. Foster
.Sergt.
H
Nicholas Weiss
.Corpl.
H " (wounded onl
John B. Hopewell.
.Private
H
Alfred VV. Bigelow.
"
H
Wm. H. Weagunt .
"
H
Arnold Cochrane..
.Corpl.
I "
Wardw^ell Mathers. Private
I "
Wm. McCurdv
"
1
Joseph Shonmakei
"
I "
Freeman Schneider
"
I "
I. B. Pomero3'
..Sergt.
K
Alex. Metzger
..Corpl.
K
John A. Cutting...
..Private
K
Jas. A. Bigelov^
"
K
Total commissioned officers wounded 6
Total enlisted men w^ounded 107
Total enlisted men killed 35
Total loss 148
Assistant Surgeon Otis Ayer and hospital
Steward, F. Buckingham captured at field
hospital 2
The above is as complete a list of the casualities of the 2nd
Minnesota regiment as can be obtained at the present time;
Appendix.
223
many of those wounded in the second day's fight were left
in the enemy's hands. The regiment behaved most gal-
lantly, not a man left the ranks but that was known to be
either killed or wounded. The wounded at this place are
doing well, and are as comfortable as could be expected.
Lt. Albert Woodbury, 2nd Minnesota Battery, is here,
severeh' wounded in the left arm above the elbow joint.
I remain, vours truly,
M. C. 'T01.MAN,
Surgeon 2nd Minnesota Volunteers,
Medical Director 3rd Division, 14th A. C, D. C.
These men were detailed to care for our wounded men
and were captured in performing that dutj^:
George A. Baker, private, Co. B.
Jediah Furman,
Hiram A. Stewart,
Ashle3- W. Wood,
John Stuekey,
Charles Sweeney,
Peter Walrick,
Washington Maguire,
Henry Oaks,
Uriah S. Karmany,
John S. Bertrand,
William B. Haskin,
B.
B.
B.
C.
C.
C.
D.
F.
H.
I.
" K.
12 captured.
Total loss 162, 42 2-10 per cent of 384 men engaged.
(No. 18.;
BATTLE OF CHICAMAUGA.
Supplementary report b}- Col. J.\mes George.
[Adjutant General's Report for 1863, State of Minnesota).
Headquarters Second Minnesota
Regiment Volunteers,
Chattanooga, Tennessee, September 30, 1863.
General: — For the purpose of placing on record the
names of those officei's and men, who for gallant and meri-
torious conduct on the battlefield of the Chicamauga are
entitled to special mention, I respectfully submit the fol-
lowing list as supplementary to the general report of the
operations of my regiment, a copy of which has already*
been transmitted to voiir office.
224 Appendix.
I am under special obligations to m^- staff and field offi-
cers. More praise\vorth3' exhibitions of coolness and cour-
age under fire were never made u])on any field of battle.
The}^ each deserve much of their covmtry, not only for their
gallant conduct in these battles, but for their uniform
industry and ability in the faithful discharge of ever}^ dut\'.
Such officers are a credit to the State and to the service.
Lieut. Col. J. W. Bishop had his horse shot under him in
the second day's battle, but kept his place on foot, it being
impossible at the time to get a re-mount.
Major John B. Davis also had his horse shot under him,
and was soon after wounded in the forehead with a frag-
ment of shell, but kept his post during the battle, which
lasted several hours afterwards.
Adjutant James W. Wood had his horse shot under him,
but continued in the active discharge of his dut3^ on foot.
Assistant Surgeon William Brown was engaged in dress-
ing the wounded on the field, and frequenth' under fire
both days.
Assistant Surgeon Otis Ayer remained at his post attend-
ing to our wounded, and while thus in the discharge of his
duty became a prisoner. He was afterwards exchanged
and has re-joined his regiment.
Of the company officers, there were present with their
respective comjianics, and each in the energetic, faithful and
fearless discharge of his dutN', the following:
Capt. Abraham Harkins, Co. B, severely wounded 2ndda3\
Capt. John Aloulton, Co. D.
Capt. J. C. Donahower, " E.
Capt. D. B. Loomis " F.
Capt. C. F. Mever, " G.
Capt. C. S. nine, " I.
Capt. W. W. Woodbury, " K.
1st Lieut. Levi Ober, " A, commanding his companv.
1st Lieut. W. W. Wilson, " B.
1st Lieiit. H. K. Cousc, " C, commanding his companv.
1st Lieut. S. G. Trimble, " D.
1st Lieut. J. S. Livingston," F.
1st Lieut. H. V. Rumohr, " G, wounded in face 2nd da\'.
1st Lieut. L. N. Holmes, " H. commanding his company.
1st Lieut. Tenbroek Stout," I.
2nd Lieut. E. L. Kenny, " A.
2nd Lieut. M. Thoenv, " C, wounded in hand 1st dav.
2nd Lieut. H. Lobdel'l, " D.
2nd Lieut. T. G. Scott, " E.
2nd Lieut. T. G. Quale, " H, wounded in hip 2nd day.
2nd Lieut. D. S. Coverdale," K, wounded in thigh 1st day.
Appendix. 225
Sergt. Maj. P. C. Wheeler was slightly wounded in the
chin the first day.
Order! \' M. D. E. Runals and bugler Albert Gsell are
entitled to special mention for their gallant and prompt
discharge of their duties, under fire. Both were severel3^
wounded.
The following named men are also reported to me by
their company commanders as having speciall^^ distin-
guished themselves in the line of dut^', on the battlefield,
while without exception, all present are credited with gal-
lant and soldier-like conduct :
Sergeant Alonzo Worden, Corporal A. McCorkle, and
Private James W. Stewart, of Compan3- A.
Sergeants Jbhn McAulifif and Robert S. Hutchinson and
Private James B. Gere, of Compan3' C.
Sergeants Albert R. Hall and RoUin A. Lampher and
Private Gideon AI. Gilchrist, of Company D.
Sergeant Benjamin S\'Ivester, Corporal O. P. Renne and
Private Michael Horrigan, of Company- E.
Corporal John A. Smith and Privates Janke and Weber,
of Company G.
Private William S. Wells, of Company I.
Sergeants A. H. Reed and John D. Burr and Private
William B. C. Evans, of Company- K.
Very respectfylh' \-ours, etc.,
Oscar Malmros, J. George,
Adjutant General. Colonel Commanding
State of Minnesota. 2nd Minnesota Volunteers.
(No. 19.)
BATTLE OF CHICAMAUGA.
Report of Col. F". Van Derveer, commanding Brigade:
{Official Files, Adjutant General's Office, State of Minne-
sota.)
Headquarters 3rd Brigade,
3rd Division, 14th A. C,
Chattanooga, Tenn., Sept. 25th, 1863.
Capt. Louis J. Lambert, A. A. G.:
Captain: — I have the honor to repoi't the part taken b\-
the 3rd Brigade in the actions of the 19th and 20th inst.,
near the Chicamauga. M^- command consisted of the 2nd
Minnesota, Col. George; the 9th Ohio. Col. Kammerling;
the 35th Ohio. Lt Col. Boynton ; the 87th Indiana, Col.
15
226 Appendix.
Gleason; and Batterx- "I," 4th Artillery, 1st Lt. F. G.
Smith. Our eft'ective strength on the morning of the 19th
inst., was 1,788 officers and men.
After a fatiguing march during the night of the 18th,
and without an\- sleep or rest, whilst halting near Kelly's
house on the Rossville and Lafayette road, I received an
order from Brig. Gen. Brannan, commanding the 3rd Divis-
ion, to move with haste along the road to Reed's bridge
over the Chicamauga, take possession of a ford near that
point and hold it. I immediately moved southward to
McDaniel's house, and thence at right angles eastwardly
toward the bridge. A short distance from McDaniel's I
formed the brigade into two lines, sent skirmishers to the
front and advanced cautiously, though without losingtime,
one and one-half miles. In the meantime brisk firing was
progressing on m\^ right, understood to be maintained b3'
the 1st and 2nd Brigades of this Division.
Being wnthout a guide and entirely unacquainted with
the country, I am unable to state how near I went to
Reed's bridge, but perceiving from the firing on my right
that I was passing the enem3''s flank, I wheeled my line in
that direction and began feeling his position with ms-
skirmishers. About this time I received an order, stating
that the 2nd brigade was gradually giving back, and that
it was necessarj' I should at once make an attack. This
we did with a will ; the first line, composed of the 35th
Ohio on the right, and the 2nd Minnesota on the left,
moving down a gentle slope, leaving the 87th Indiana in
reserve on the crest of the hill.
At this time the 9th Ohio, which had charge of the
ammunition train of the division, had not arrived. Smith's
battery, composed of four twelve-pound Napoleons, were
placed in position in the centre and on the right of the line.
The enemy having discovered our position opened a furious
fire of artillery and musketry, which was replied to
promptly and apparently with considerable effect, for in
half an hour the enemy slackened his fire and his advance
line was compelled to fall back. I took advantage of this
movement to bring forward the 87th Indiana, and by a
passage of lines to the front carried them to the relief of the
35th Ohio, which had already suffered severely in the
engagement. This movement was executed with as much
coolness and accuracy as if on drill. Scarcely was the 87th
Indiana in line before fresh forces of the enemv were brought
Appendix. 227
up, in time to receive from us a terrible Yolle3' which made
his ranks stagger and held him some time at bay.
The 9th Ohio, which I had previously- sent for, arrived at
this moment. I placed it on the right of m\' line. Still fur-
ther to the right a section of Church's battery and the 17th
Ohio, which had been ordered to report to me, were in
position as the enemy slackened their fire. Col. Kammerling,
chafing like a w^ounded tiger that he had been behind at the
opening, ordered his men to charge ; awa3- thev went,
closely followed b\' the 87th Indiana and 17th Ohio, the
enemy falling back precipitateh'. The 9th in this charge
recaptured the guns in Guenther's batter\-, 5th artillerj-,
and held them.
In the meantime the enemy, massing his forces suddenly,
.appeared upon m\- left and rear; he came forward several
lines deep at a double-quick, and opened a brisk fire, but
not before I had changed mj^ front to resist him. My new
line consisted of the 2nd Minnesota on the right, next one
section of Smith's battery, commanded bj- Lieut. Rodney,
then the 87th Indiana, flanked by Church's and the other
sections of Smith's battery, and on the extreme left the
35th Ohio. The two exti-emities of the line formed an
obtuse angle, the vertex on the left of the 87th Indiana,
and the opening toward the enemy. The 2nd Minnesota
and 87th Indiana lay on the ground and were apparenth"
unobserved by the enemy, who moved upon the left of m3^
lines, delivering and receiving a direct fire. Church opened
with all his guns, and Smith with one section. He advanced
rapidly, m\- left giving wa^' slowh' until his flank was
brought opposite m\- right wing, when a murderous and
enfilading fire was poured into his ranks b}^ the infantr\'
and b\' Rodney's section shotted with canister. Notwith-
standing this, he moved steadih' up his second and third
lines.
Having observed his great force as well as the persist-
ence of his attack. I had sent messenger after messenger to
bring up the 9th Ohio, which had not 3-et returned from its
charge made from mv original site. .\t last, however, and
when it seemed impossible for m3' brave men to longer
withstand the impetuous advance of the enem3-, the 9th
came gallantl3' up in time to take part in the final struggle,
which resulted in his sudden withdrawal. -In this last at-
tack his loss must have been very severe. In addition to
the heav3^fire of the infantry, our guns were pouring double
228 Appendix.
charges of canister in front and on his Hanks, at one time
dehvered at a distance of not exceeding fort^- (•JrO) yards.
During the latter part of the contest reinforcements had
arrived, and were b}- Gen. Brannan, then present, formed
in Hne for the purpose of supporting my brigade, but were
not activel}' engaged at this time. Our dead and wounded
were gathered tip and a new line, under the supervision of
Gen. iSrannan, was formed. The enemy, however, made no
further demonstration, and quietly withdrew. A small
number of prisoners were taken, who reported that the
force opposed to us v^'as two divisions of Longstreet's
corps, one commanded b\- Gen. Hood. They fought with
great obstinacy- and determination, onl\' retreating when
fairly swept away hj our overwhelming lire. After the
second withdrawal by the enemy our empt3' cartridge boxes
were replenished b\' wagons sent into the field by the
General commanding the division.
After resting my command for an hour or more, I was
ordered to report to Maj. Gen. Rej^nolds. Immediately
moving towards his position, we arrived near Kell\''s house
just before sundown, and there, by direction of Gen.
Brannan, went into bivouac.
At 8 o'clock the next morning, Sunday, the 20th Sept.,
1863, my brigade was posted as a reserve in the rear of the
1st and 2nd brigades of the division, formed in two lines of
columns closed in mass, where we remained for about an
hour, slowly moving over towards the left for the purpose
of occupying the space between the 3rd and Reynold's
division. There I received an order to move quickly over to
the left and support Gen. Baird who, it was said, was being
hard pressed by the enem^'. I wheeled my battalions to the
left, depkn-ed both lines and moved through the woods
parallel to the Chattanooga road, gradually swinging
round my left until, when in rear of Reynold's position, I
struck the road perpendicularly at a point just north of
Kelly's house, near and back of his lines.
On approaching the road, riding in advance of the
brigade, my attention was called to a large force of the
enem3^ moving southward in four lines, just then emerging
from the woods at a run, evidently intending to attack
Reynolds and Baird, who were both hotly engaged, in the
rear, and apparently unseen b_v those ofiicers. limmediateh'
wheeled my lines to the left, facing the approaching force,
and ordered them to lie down. This movement was not
executed until we received a galling fire, delivered from a
Appkndix. 229
distance of two hundred (200) \'ards. At the same time a
rebel batter\- placed in the road about five (5) or six (6)
hundred yards in our front, opened upon us with two (2)
guns. My command contin'ted to lie down until the enemy
approached within seventy-five (75) feet, and the front line,
composed of the 2nd Minnesota and 87th Indiana, delivered
a murderous fire almost in their faces, and the 35th and 9th
Ohio, passing lines quickh' to the front, the whole brigade
charged and drove the eneinx' at a full run, over the open
ground, for over a quarter of a mile, and several hun-
dred yards into the woods; my men keeping in good
order and delivering their fire as they advanced. The rebels
fled hastily to cover, leaving the ground strewn with their
dead and wounded.
We took position in the woods, and maintained a de-
termined combat for more than an hour. At this time I
greatly needed my batterv, which had been taken from the
brigade earh' in the da3' by command of Maj. Gen. Negley.
Finding a force moving on our right to support us, and the
enemy being almost silenced, I ordered return to the open
grounds south of the woods; this movement was executed
by passing lines to the rear, each line firing as it retired.
I learned from prisoners that the force we fought and put
to flight this day was the division of the rebel Gen. Brecken-
ridge. That we pimished them severeh' was proved by
their many dead and wounded, among the former of which
were several field officers, and among the latter one general
officer of high rank.
I thence moved to a position on the road near Gen.
Reynold's centre, and there remained resting m\^ men and
caring for in3' wounded for an hour or more. Although T
had not reported to either Generals Re3'nolds or Baird, as
ordered in the morning, I believe I rendered them ver\- sub-
stantial assistance, and at a time when it was greatU'
needed.
About two o'clock, hearing heavy firing to the right of
the line, and learning that the high ground in that direction
was being held by Gen. Brannan with a part of our division,
I moved cautiously through the woods, and at 2:30 P. M.
reported my'brigade to him for dtxty. We were immediately
placed in the front, relieving his troops, then almost ex-
hausted. The position was well selected and capable of
being defended against a heavy force, the line being a crest
of a hill, for the possession of which the enem^- made most
desperate and renewed attempts. From this time until dark
230 Appendix.
we were hotly engaged. The ammunition failing and no
suppl^v on hand except a small quantity furnished b}^ Maj.
Gen. Gordon Granger, our men gathered their cartridges
from the boxes of the dead, wounded and prisoners, and
finally fixed bayonets, determined to hold the position.
Here again the 9th Ohio made a gallant charge down the
hill into the midst of the enemy, scattering them like chaff,
and then returning to their position on the hill. For an
hour and one-half before dark the attack was one of unex-
ampled fury, line after line of fresh troops being hurled
against our position with a heroism and persistency which
almost dignified their cause. At length night ended the
struggle and the enemy having suffered a terrible loss, re-
tired from our immediate front.
During the latter part of the day the position directly on
our right had been held by Brig. Gen. Steedman, but which,
earU' in the evening had been withdrawn without our
knowledge, thus leaving ourflank exposed. From the silence
at that point. Brig. Gen. Brannan suspected that all might
not be right, and ordered me to place the 35th Ohio across
that flank to prevent a surprise. This had scarceU^ been
done before a rebel force appeared in the gloom directh- in
their front. A mounted officer rode to within a few paces of
the 35th and asked " What regiment is that ? " To this some
one replied "The 35th Ohio." The officer turned suddenly
and attempted to run away, but our regiment delivered a
volley that brought horse and rider to the ground, and put
to flight the force. Prisoners said this officer was the rebel
Gen. Gregg.
At seven (7) o'clock p. m. an order came from Maj. Gen.
Thomas that the forces under Gen. Brannan should move
(juietly to Rossville. This \vas carried into execution under
the direction of Capt. Cilley, of my staff, in excellent order.
During the whole of the two days' fighting my brigade
kept well together, at all times obeying orders promptly and
moving with regularity and precision as if on drill. ThcA^
were subjected to a very severe test on the 19th, when being
actively engaged with the enemy, another brigade (not of
our division) ran panic-stricken through and over us, some
of the officers of which shouted to our men tb retreat, or
the\- would certainly be overwhelmed, but not a man left
the ranks and the approaching eneniA- found before him a
wall of steel. Private Savage, of Smith's battery struck
one of the retreating officers with his sponge and damned
him for running against his gun,
Appendix. 231
Our loss in the engagement of both days amounts to 13
officers and 132 men killed, and 25 officers and 581 men
wounded and 51 missing. The total loss being 802 men and
officers. Doubtless many of those enumerated among the
missing will be found either wounded or killed. There was
no straggling and I have no dovibt those not wounded or
killed will be found prisoners in the hands of the enemy. It
is a noticeable fact that the 2nd Minnesota had not a single
man among the missing or a straggler, during the two days''
engagement.
I cannot speak too highly of the conduct of m\^ officers
and men ; without exception they performed all that was
required, much more than could have been expected.
Where all did so well, it seems almost imjust to make
distinctions ; more gallantry and indomitable courage was
never displa3'ed upon the field of battle.
The attention of the General commanding the division is
particularly called to the conduct of Col. James George,
commanding 2nd Minn, vols.; Col. Gustavus Karamerling,
commanding 9th Ohio vols.; Col. N. Gleason, 87th Indiana
vols.; Lt. Col. H. V. N. Bo^^nton, commanding 35th Ohio
vols.; and 1st Lieut. F.G. Smith, commanding battery "I,"
4th U. S. artillery. These officers performed every duty re-
quired of them with coolness and great promptness, and by
their energy and gallantry contributed much to the favor-
able result which attended every collision with the enenu'.
Such officers are a credit to the service and our country.
Smith's batterv rendered great help in the action of the 19th
inst., and was ably and gallantly served, Lieut. Rodney
being conspicuous in the management of his section.
Capt. Church of the 1st brigade, with one section of his
battei-y, fought well and is entitled to credit he rendered me
on the 19th.
I cannot refrain from alluding to the reckless courage and
dash of Adjt. Harris, of the 9th Ohio vols.
My staff upon the field consisted of Capt. J. R. Beatty,
2nd Minnesota vols.; A. A. A. G., Captains P. H. Parshall,
35th Ohio, and B. E. Thoenssen, 9th Ohio; acting aids,
Capt. C. A. Cilley, 2nd Minn, vols.. Brig. Topographical
Engineer, and 1st Lt. A. E. Alden, 2nd Minn, vols., Brig.
Inspector. For efficienc3', personal braA'er\' and energy, their
conduct deserves more than praise. They exposed them-
selves at all times watching the movements of the enemy,
carrying orders, rallying the men, and by every means in
their power contributing to the success of the brigade.
232 Appendix.
Capt. Parshall was killed early in the action of the first day.
He was a brave, noble soldier, an upright gentleman, and
carries with him to the grave the love and regret of man\-
friends.
Capt. Thoenssen was missing the evening of the second
da3', and I believe was captured. Captains Beatty and
Cille^' had each two horses shot under them.
There are many names particularly commended for cour-
age and good behaviour, for which I respectfully refer to the
reports of the regiments and the batter3-.
We have lost man^- gallant officers and men, a list of
whom is herewith furnished 3'ou.
In the charge made b\' the 9th Ohio on the 19th which
recaptured the batter}- of the regular brigade, their loss in
killed and wounded was over lift}'.
I am. Captain, verj- respectfully,
Your obedient servant.
Official cop}- : (Signed) F. VaxDerveek,
J.\MES W. Wood. Col. com'd'g 3rd brigade.
1st Lt. and Adjutant, 2d Minnesota vols.
[No. 20.]
COLONEL JAiMES GEORGE RECOMMENDED FOR
PROMOTION.
(Official Files, Adjutant General's Office, Stateof Minnesota.)
Headqu.\rters 3d Brig.\de, 3d Division, 14th A. C.
Chattanooga, Tenn., Oct. 9th, 1863.
To the President of the United States :
Sir: — I respectfulh- recommend to j^our favorable con-
sideration the name of Col. James George, commanding
2nd Minnesota Volunteers, for a commission as Brigadier
General of Volunteers.
Col. George is the senior Colonel in the service from his
State, and has b}- his conduct in the late battles proved
that he is worthy of promotion. His regiment is remark-
able for its steadiness, reliabilit}- and efficienc}- in action,
which is attributable to his own coolness and intrepidity.
Ver\- respectfully, your obedient servant,
(Signed) F. Van Derveer,
Col. Com'd'g Brigade.
Appendix. 233
( Endorsements. )
Headqi'arters 3d Division, 14th A. C, D. C.
Chattanooga, Tenn., Oct. 9, 1863.
I cordially endorse the recommendation of Col. Van
Derveer in this case. Col. George's conduct in command of
his regiment came under my personal observation in the
battles of the 19th and 20th September, at "Chattanooga,"
in which he displayed great bravery and coolness, and kept
his regiment in admirable order during the fight of both
days.
(Signed) J. M. Brannan,
Brig. Gen. Com'd'g Division.
Headquarters 14th Army Corps.
Chattanooga, Tenn., Oct. 10, 1863.
Col. James George has commanded the 2nd Minnesota
Volunteers for more than eighteen months, this regiment
has always been regarded as one of the best in the service,
and has alwa^-s been commanded by him with abilitj',
shows that he is worthy of promotion. I therefore cor-
dially unite in the above recommendation.
(Signed) Geo. H. Thomas,
Maj. Gen. U. S. V.
Headquarters Dep.\rtment of the Cumberland,
Oct. 12, 1863.
Col. George deserves the promotion asked, and I hope
he will receive it.
(Signed) W. S. Rosecrans,
Maj. Genl.
[No. 21.]
(See regimental report of Mission Ridge in chapter ix of
narrative.)
BATTLE OF MISSION RIDGE.
List of the killed and wounded. Second Regiment, Minne-
sota Volunteers.
( Official Files, Adjutant General's Office, State of Minnesota. )
COMPANY "a."
1st Lietit. Levi Ober Wounded slightly.
Corpl. A.J. Bolsinger. " "
Private Chas B. Rouse " severeh'.
" Richard Rice " slightly.
" Adam Mann '* "
234 ArrHNDix.
COMPANY " n."
Sergt. John Wcsterman Killed.
" Benjamin P. Talbot Wounded mortally, sineedied.
COMPANY "C."
Private Rineis DeCirave Wounded mortally, sineedied.
Samuel S. Kline " severeh'.
Kiley Harnhaus " slightly.
COMPANY " n."
1st Lieut. Samuel (). Trim1)le. .Killed.
Cor])l John S. Mullen Wounded severely.
Private Jose])h E. LeHlond
Jesse M. Williams " slightly.
" Alexander Landrie " "
COMPANY " K."
2nd Lieut. Thos. C. Seott Wounded slightly.
Sergt. Holder Jaeobus " "
" Thomas Ilarney " "
Corpl. N. C. Kukkce " severely.
Thomas I^'owble " slightly.
(). P. Kenne
Private J. L. Ilenningson " "
" Ole Ilendriekson " "
COMPANY " H."
Private Samuel Loudon Killed.
2nd Lieut. Thos. (). Ouayle Wounded severely.
Private James Pelkey " mortally, sineedied.
William Gleason " severely-.
Isaae Sherman " slightly.
COMPANY "i."
Ci)rpl. ]. Ira Tillotson Wounded severely.
Private Stephen W. Miller " slightly.
" Henry White " "
" Ethan A. Hitchcock.... " "
COMPANY " K."
Corpl. Henry F. Koeh Killed.
Private George F. Lamphear.. "
1st Sergt. A. II. Keed Wounded severely.
Sergt. T. H. Pendergast " slightly.
Private Philettis S. Barnett.... " severelv.
Wm. B. C. Evans
" Christian Kasmier '' '*
AlM'KNDlX. 235
KIXAI'ITl'LATION.
Officers killed 1 Olliccrs wounded ;{
Enlisted men killed 4 Enlisted men wounded 81
Total killed 5 Total w^Junded 34
Total killed and wounded 39
Total No. of officers and men engaged 185
" j. W. Bishop,
Lt. Col. Com'd'g.
Paul Caviezel, Sergt. Company " I-^," wounded Oct. 5,
died Oet. 22, '63.
Peter Peterson, i)rivate Coni])anv " li," wounded Oet.
12, died Oct. 13, '63.
[No. 22.]
BATTLE OF MISSION KIDOE.
Suijplementary rejjort by Lt. Col. J. W. Hisho]).
{Official Files, Adjiit.'int (icnernl's Office, State of Minnesota.)
Hkadquaktkrs Second Kkgiment Minn. Vols.
Chattanooga, Tenn., Dec. 10, 1863.
Cai'T. John K. Beatty, A. A. A. G. 2nd Brig., 3rd Div.,
14th A. C:
Captain: — For the purpose of ])laein^ on record the
names of the officers ami men of ni}' command who 1)3'
gallant and meritorious conduct under fire, during the
assaidt on Mission Ridge on the 25th ult., have entitled
themselves to special mention, I respectfully submit the
following rei)ort as suj^plcmcntary to the general rei)ort
already on file in your oflice.
There w'cre present and engaged on that occasion one
hundred and seventy enlisted men of the regiment and the
following named officers, every one of wdiom is entitled to
creditable mention.
Adjutant James W. Wood.
Assistant Surgeon Wm. Brown.
Captains C. S. Uline,
" J. C. Donahower,
" John Moulton,
" Levi Ober,
236 AlM'ENDlX.
1st Lieutenants Tenbroeck Stout,
" H. K. Couse,com'cl'g his Co.,'
" S. G. Trimble,
" W.W. Wilson, com 'd'g his Co. ,
" L. A. Holmes, com'd'g his Co.
2a Lieutenants T. G. Scott,
John C. Jones,
" Edw. L. Kenn3',
" Thos. G. OuaA-le.
To Capt. C. S. Uline, the senior of his grade in the
regiment, was assigned the command of the two companies
deployed to cover the formation and advance of the
brigade in taking position for the assault ; this duty was
skilfully discharged, and in the furious assault and in the
melee on the ridge he especially distinguished himself by his
gallant example and 1)3^ his coolness and promptitude in
directing the enthusiasm of those who followed him.
1st Lieutenant Samuel G. Trimble, a gallant and faithful
officer, was shot dead in the extreme front of the fight on
the ridge. Beloved and respected by his comrades in life,
his death in the very moment of victory cast a cloud over
our thanksgiving for the triumph for which he gave his life.
2nd Lieut. Thomas G. Ouayle fell at the head of his men
in the melee on the ridge, severely wounded in the right
knee.
Color Sergeant Holder Jacobus of Company "E"
crossed lances with a rebel color sergeant over a Napoleon
gun on the ridge, and for a moment the two disputed its
possession. Only for a moment, however, and the gun with
its mate was ours. Sergeant Jacobus was soon afterward
wounded, and all of his guard save one were either killed
or wounded.
1st Sergeant .\lex. H. Reed commanded his company
("K") during the engagement, behaving with marked
coolness and courage. He was severelj' v^^ounded near the
close of the fight on the ridge.
1st Sergeant George W. Shuman, of Company "L" dis-
tinguished himself by gallant conduct during the engage-
ment, especially b^- taking the colors of the regiment from
Corporal Mullen who had fallen wounded, and keeping
them aloft and in front through the hottest of the fight.
Sergeant Lafa^-ette Hadley of Company " B," Thos.
Harney of Company "E," and A. B. White of Company
"K," are all entitled to special notice for gallantry, as are
also privates Cox, Marsh and McNeal and many otherg^
ArpENDix. 237
whose gallant deeds, though telling in the fight, were not
especially observed and reported.
I am. Captain, very respectfully,
Your most obedient servant,
(Signed) J. W. Bishop, Lt. Col.,
Com'd'g 2nd Minn. Vols.
[No. 23.]
BATTLE OF MISSION RIDGE.
Report of Col. F. Van Derveer, commanding Brigade.
( OfficialFiles, Adjutant GeneraVs Office, State of Minnesota.)
Headquarters 2d Brigade, 3d i5ivision, 14th A. C.
Chattanooga, Tenn.
Capt. a. C. McClurg, a. A. A. Gen'l, etc.:
Captain : — I have the honor to report the part taken bv
the 2d Brigade in the late engagements in front of Chat-
tanooga.
My command consisted of the 9tli Ohio Vols., Col. G.
Kammerling; the 75th Indiana, Col. M. S. Robinson ; the
87th Indiana, Col. Newell Gleason ; the 105th Ohio, Lt.
Col. W. B. Tolles; 101st Indiana, Lt. Col. Thos. Doan ; 2d
Minnesota, Lt. Col. J. W. Bishop; and the 35th Ohio, Lt.
Col. H. V. N. Boynton ; numbering in all 102 commissioned
officers and 1,577 enlisted men.
Having been supplied with one hundred rounds of
ammunition to the man, on the afternoon of the 23d of
November I moved to a position three-quarters of a mile
in front of Fort Phelps with ray brigade formed in two
lines, the left resting upon the Moore road and the right
near General Turchin's Brigade. Here we remained in
line with a strong picket in front until 8 o'clock A. M. ; on
the 25th, when in pursuance to orders from the General
commanding the division, I deplo^-ed one regiment (35th
Ohio) along my tront and advanced it near without
opposition — the enemy's pickets having been withdrawn
about daybreak that morning, and several small parties
left for observation retiring in haste on our approach.
Afterwards this regiment was ordered to join the brigade,
when the division was moved to the left to and beyond
Calico Creek, crossing it near its mouth. Passing but a
238 Appendix.
short distance from this creek an order came to counter-
march, and we returned and took i)osition about halt a
mile north of Hald Hill, facing, and twelve hundred yards
distant from Missionary Ridge.
At this point I formed my brigade in two lines; The first
composed of the 87th Indiana on the right; the 101st In-
diana on the left, and the 35th Ohio in the centre. The
second line was formed by the 75th Indiana, and 105th
and 9th Ohio regiments. The 2nd MinnesotJi was placed
in front of the brigade, with two comjianies under Capt.
Ulinc, deployed as skirmishers, and the residue of the regi-
ment behind them as a reserve.
I ordered my skirmishers to advance to the cdgi: of the
woods, examine the position of the enemy and report their
apparent strength tn and about the rifle pits at the foot of
the ridge.
After remaining in this jjlaee for an hour, I was
o'dered to move forward and take the rifle ])its ; this w^as
about 4 o'clock P. M.
I sent word to Lt. Col. Bishop to move at once with his
skirmishers and reserve, and pushed u]) the brigade to keep
within supporting distance. The rifle pits in our front
api)eared to be occupied by two battalions of the enemy,
two stands of colors being visible upon their works. The
skirmishers advanced gallanth' into the open field, and
under a heav}' fire from the enemy's artillery on the ridge
and musketry from the lower works, dashed forward at a
double-quick without firing a shot. As they approached
within one hundred and fifty yards of the enemy, great
uneasiness was apparent among the men in the rifle pits,
and by the time our skirmishers were at a distance of one
hundred yards, they were retreating precipitately up the
ridge to their rear. Lt. Col. Bishop immediately got his
command under cover of the encm^^'s works, and within five
minutes of this time m\' fii'st line, having passed the open
space under a very heavy, direct and enfilading fire from
the enemy's batteries on the ridge, were also under cover of
the same works. In the meantime my second line was
brought forward into the open ground and the men ordered
to lie down.
Fifteen minutes after the rifle pits were taken the General
commanding the division ordered a charge upon the crest
of the ridge. My brigade moved at once with cheers and a
hearty good will, the 2nd Minnesota occupying a position
AlTKNDlX. 239
ill the first line. The preeipitous ascent, the enemy's sharp-
shooters in front and the terrille enfilading artillery fire
upon each flank, were forgotten in their eager haste to
storm the heights. My second line came forward at a run,
and after a few moment's rest at the fi)ot of the ridge,
followed closely the advance. In fifteen minutes more our
colors were upon the summit, and in twenty minutes the
rebels had been driven out of their works on the crest, and
we occupied the ground in front of the l)rigade.
As my men sprang over the works, the enemy's cannon-
iers were caught in the act of loading, and were bayonetted
or driven off before they could fire their i)ieces. Five gun.s
were found here in position and cai)tured by the brigade,
two (2) by the 2nd Minnesota and three (3) Ijy the 35th
Ohio. The larger part of the enemy letired along the ridge
towards the left, vigorously i)ursued and driven near half a
mile.
For thirty minutes a very determined resistance was
made by the enemv'. Many of the troops of my command
having in the charge up the ridge lost their regimental
organization, were in some disorder for a short time, but all
pressed towards the enemy. The 9th Ohio and ICtih In-
diana came up in good order and were ])laced in line per-
pendicular to the ridge and fronting the rebels. Darkness
coming on, firing ceased on both sides, and my brigade
bivouacked on the crest of Missionary- Kidge.
After the action one other piece of artillerv abandoned
by the enem^^ was found by the 75th Indiana and taken
charge of.
The guns that were captured by my command were left
where found while our men ])ursued the enemy along the
ridge towards Tunnel Hill. While they were thus absent
the pieces were hauled ofi'to our rear by men said to belong
to Brig. Gen. Wood's division, which was upon our right.
I saw these guns being taken towards the ground occu])ied
by that division, and upon inquiry I was informed that
they were being taken to a position where the3' could be
used against the enemy. My brigade at the same time
captured one caisson with six horses attached, and a limber
with one pair of horses; these two were taken to the rear
with the guns.
No other troops were near this Ijatterv when taken, —
the enemy were driven from it Ijy my own men and we thus
lost possession 'whilst gallantly engaging the retreating-
rebel force. The next dav 1 moved with the rest of the
240 Appendix.
division to McAffee's Church and the succeeding to Ring-
gold. We were not, however, activeh^ engaged ; and on the
29th marched back to our camp at Chattanooga.
My loss upon the 25th was 2 officers killed and 13
wounded; 20 enlisted men killed and 126 wounded,
In this action m}- brigade fulh' svistained the reputation
it had won at Chickamauga. None flinched from their
dut3'.
I particularly commend the conduct of Col. Kammerling,
9th Ohio, Col. Robinson, 75th Indiana, Col. Gleason, 87th
Indiana, Lt. Col. Doan, 101st Indiana, Lt. Col. Bishop,
2nd Minnesota, and Lt. Col. Bo^niton, 35th Ohio. These
officers discharged their duties coolh^ and abh'. Lt. Col.
Bovnton was severeh' wounded earh- in this engagement,
when the command of his regiment devolved upon Maj.
Budd, who is entitled to much praise for the energy and
skill he exhibited in leading his men up the ridge.
Especial credit is due Lt. Col. Bishop for the manage-
ment of his regiment when skirmishing in front of the
brigade, and the gallant manner in which his command car-
ried the rifle pits at the foot of the ridge.
There were many line officers and enlisted men w^ho
deserve commendation for their gallantr\' ; for their names
I respectfully refer you to the reports of regimental com-
manders.
The members of mv staff with me on the field were
Capt. J. R. Beatty, A. \. A. Gen'l, Capt. C. A. Cilley, Brig.
Inspector, Capt. \V. R. Tuttle, Brig. Engineer, 1st Lieut. S.
Fortner, Provost Marshall, 1st. Lt. S. D, Parsons, A. A.
Quartermaster, and 1st Lt. C. B. Williams, A. D. C: They
rendered me great service, and entitled themselves to praise
for their gallant conduct.
I am. Captain,
Very respectfully, &c.,
(Signed) F. Van Derveer,
Col. 35th O. V. I.,
Com'd'g 2nd Brigade.
Appendix. 241
[No. 24.]
PROMOTIONS RECOMMENDED.
Headquarters 2d Brigade. 3d Division, 14tb A. C.
ViNiNGS Station, Ga., July 14th, 1864.
Brig. Gen. Oscar Malmros, Adjt. Gen. State of Minnesota:
General: — I havethehonor to recommend the following
promotions in the 2nd Regiment Minnesota Volunteers
now under m3' command and forming part of the brigade,
I. Lt. Col. J. W. Bishop to be Colonel.
II. Major Calvin S. Uline to be Lt. Colonel.
III. Capt. Clinton A. Cilley to lie Major.
The regiment now having received two detachments of
recruits, numbers six hundred and ninet3'-five (695) men
aggregate, which, with two hundred recruits, which I am
informed are now on the wav to join it, will entitle the
officers so promoted to be mustered accordingly.
I take this opportunit\' to state that the 2nd Minnesota
Veteran Vohmteer Infantry is regarded as one of the ver\^
best organizations in the service, and that the above
named officers are cspecialh' deserving of promotion for
their efficiency and strict attention to duty. The good of
the service and justice to these officers require that the
regiment be filled to the minimum, in order that afullcpiota
of field officers ma3^ be mustered.
I am, very respectfulh-.
Your most obedient servant,
N. Gleason,
Col. Com'd'g 2d Brig., 3d Div., 14th A. C.
( Endorsements. )
Headquarters 3d, Division, 14th A. C.
July 14th, 1864.
The within recommendations for promotion in the 2nd
Minn. Vols, are fulh' concurred in, and speed\^ action in the
several cases urged. For nearU- a year these officers have
served in my commands, and I know them to be competent
and in every way worthy of promotion.
Respectfully forwarded ,
A. Baird,
Brig. Gen. Com'd'g Division.
16
242
Appendix.
Headquarters 14th A. C.
July 14th, 1864.
Respectfull}' forwarded. The propriety of these promo-
tions is unquestionable, and they are earnestly recom-
mended.
John M. Palmer,
Maj. Gen. Com'd'g 14th A. C.
Headquarters Department of the Cumberland.
July 15th, 1864.
Respectfully forwarded to his excellency the Governor of
Minnesota, recommending that the promotion be made as
requested of Lt. Col. Bishop, Major Uline and Capt. Cilley.
Geo. H. Thomas, Maj. Gen. Cora'd'g,
Dept. of the Cumberland.
[No. 25.]
ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.
Co. Date. /
B June 18,1864 Killed./'
22,
" 22,
" 18,
May 14,
June 1,
" 5,
" 14,
" 18,
" 18,
" 18,
" 18,
" 18,
" 18,
" 18,
" 18,
" 18,
:^
Wounded
( Official Files, Adjutant GeneraTs Office, State of Minnesota. ]
List of casualties in the Second Regiment Minnesota
Volunteer Infantry during the three months ending Aug-
6,1864:
Name. Rank and
John C.Jones 2d Lieut
Peter G. Wheeler Sergt.Maj.
Spencer Lavicount.. Private
Nicholas Roppert... .Corporal
Charles F. Me3'er... .Captain
Samuel A. Field Private
Joseph Orcutt Corporal
DavidJ. BumgarnerPrivate
Roswell Ingalls
Nelson Shelafoo
Isaac Sherman
Geo. Hetherington..
Henry Clinton
Ira Holliday
Francis Waldron
James Whiting
Squire Hofl.
N.C.S
F
G
G
D
C
A
K
H
H
H
I
I
B
B
F
^/
W'dandc'd.
Wounded.
.y
"7
::7
Appendix.
243
Name.
Rank and Co.
Wm. Bingham Private C
Martin V.Barber.... " K
Geo. Rutherford Sergt. F
Thomas Rutherford " D
Nicholas Sons Corporal E
Geo. Ainsworth Sergt. F
Wm. Madden Corporal F
James Thornton Private F
Frank Harris " F
Chas. F. Heyw^ard.. " F
John E. Colburn " A
LewisHorst " E
Thaddeus O'Kibben " E
Joseph Burger " H
Date. I
June 18,1864Wounded.''>
" 19,
" 19,
" 20,
" 20,
" 22,
" 22,
" 22,
" 22,
" 22,
" 22,
" 26,/
May 20,V
July 9,
Mortally.
Wounded J
Station — near Atlanta, Ga.
Date— Aug. 26th, 1864.
(Signed) J. W. Bishop,
Lt. Col. Com'd'g 2nd Minn.
Charles Jung, private Co. G, Sept. 1, v^ounded (Jones-
boro).
George Adams, private Co. C, Sept. 1, wounded, ( Jones-
bo ro).
W.J.Johnson, private Co. C, Sept. 1, v^^ounded, ( Jones-
boro).
[No. 26.]
Complimentary Letter from Brig. Gen. A. Baird, Com'd'g
Division, to Gov. Miller.
(Certified copy in possession of J. W. B.)
Headquarters 3d Division, 14th A. C.
Savannah, Ga., January 6, 1865.
His Excellency, S. Miller, Governor of Minnesota:
Sir, — In consequence of a letter addressed by you to
Maj. Gen. Thomas, commanding the Arm\' of the Cumber-
land, in which 3'ou promise to fill up the 2nd Reg. Minn.
Vols, from the supplementary draft to be made in your
state in November past, and ask that an oflScer be sent to
receive the men, I have detailed Major Uline for that duty,
with orders to report to you at St. Paul.
244 Ari'Kxnix.
I trust that the condition of affairs may be such as to
enable 3-ou to carry out the design \Yhich 3'ou expressed in
3'our letter, and that Maj. Uline ma3- soon return with the
number of men required to fill up his ranks.
This regiment has been under my command for more
than a year, and has won for itself, and for the soldiers of
your state, a high reputation. It is one of the Yer\' best
regiments in an\' of our armies, and I am sure that your
men now entering the service cannot do more for the honor
"of their state, or serve with greater profit to themselves,
than by becoming attached to it.
The three officers holding your commissions for the
highest positions in the regiment are all men of remarkable
merit, yet they are still serving in subordinate grades for
want of the number of men required to muster them. They
are Lt. Col. Bishop, Maj. Uline and Capt. Moulton, and
all of them have earned their promotion many times since
they have been under my command.
I am, sir, most respectfull\%
Your obedient servant,
A. Baird,
Brig. Gen. Com'd'g Div.
[No. 27.]
SAVAXXAH TO OOLDSBORO.
Report of Casualties, &c., to March 23d, 1865.
( Official Files, Adjutant Genera I's Office, State of Minnesota. )
Headquarters 2n Minnesota Volunteers,
GoLDSBORo, N. C, March 23, 1865.
Col. Oscar Malmros, Adjt. Gen'l, State of Alinnesota :
Colonel, — I have the honor to report the 2d Minnesota
Vol. Inf. at this place on the 23d inst. Having just received
our back mail for sixt^' days we are overwhelmed with
business, and a formal or detailed account now is out of
the question.
Our monthly returns for January, Februarv and March
will be made and forwarded as soon as we can procure the
blanks.
Ouf casualtv list is hereto appended, and the following
items 'mav interest those who are interested in the regiment.
Appendix. 245
The number of miles marched from Savannah, (ia., Jan-
nary 20th, to Goldsboro, March 23d, not including forag-
ing or work on wagon roads, or in the destruction of
railroads, was four hundred and eighty. Much of it was
done in bad weather and on bad roads, and not a little of
it by night.
The number of serviceable horses and nudes captured
and turned in by the regiment was thirt\'.
During the campaign we drew from the trains one third
rations of hard bread, coffee and sugar; all other supplies
were foraged from the country along the line of march.
Our aggregate number present when we marched from
Savannah on the 20th of Januar\- was 526. Decrease dur-
ing the campaign of 63 da\'s was :
Men sent to general field hospital 11
Missing, supposed to be captured 5
Total deci'case being about three per cent.
Aggregate present on arriving at Goldsboro, March 23,
510.
When I remember that about one-half of the men of the
regiment are recruits of bvit a few months' service, and that
the campaign has been one of the severest on record, the
very small percentage of loss from the effective force is
more than satisfactory to me.
I am equally grateful to the recruits ( they may well drop
that name now) for their patient and heroic endurance of
])rivations and hardships to which the\- were little accus-
tomed, and to the veterans who have so uniformh- given a
soldierly example to those of less experience in the rough
ways of war.
We hope now to have a few da3'S rest to obtain clothing
and other much needed supplies, and having seven months'
pay due us, a paymaster would find himself welcome here,
too.
I am. very i-espectfuUy,
Your most obedient servant,
j. W. Bishop, Lt. Col.
Com'd'g 2d Minn. Vol. Inf'y.
246 Appendix.
CASUALTY REPORT.
DIED.
Owen Lewis, Corporal Co. B... Feb. 25, '65, of disease.
WOUNDED.
William S. Lyman, private Co. B...In action, March 20.
Christian Sanders, Sergt Co. G...In action, March 20.
J^nSSING, SUPPOSED TO BE C.\PTURED.
Isaac A. Peterson, private Co. C... March 2d.
Mars Oleson, private Co. C... March 23d.
S^lvanus Stone, private Co. C... March 3d.
Ferdinand Birck, private Co. F.. .February- 12.
Thos. H. Garretson, private. ..Co. F... February- 12.
J. W. Bishop, Lt. Col.
Com'd'g 2d Minn. Vol. Inf y.
[No. 28.]
PROMOTION ANNOUNCED.
Headquarters 3d Div., 14th A. C.
June 13th, 1865.
Lt. Col. C. S. Uline, Com'd'g 2d Reg. Minn. Vols.:
Colonel, — I have the honor to inform 3'ou that I have
this day received from the Honorable Secretary of War, a
letter of appointment as "Brigadier General of Volunteers
by Brevet." (Commission dated April 9, 1865).
As I have never had permanently an\' other command
than that of the regiment of which I have been for nearly
four years a member, I desire to say through 3'ou that I
attribute this complimentary promotion entireh' to the
gallant and soldierly conduct of the officers and men of
that regiment, and that I tender to them my sincere thanks
for the honor they have won for themselves and for me.
I am, very respectfully,
Your most obedient servant,
J. W. Bishop, Col. 2d Minn. Vols.
Brevt. Brig. Gen'l U. S. V.
Appenbix. 247
[No. 29.]
PROMOTION RECOMMENDED.
Headquarters 14th A. C.
Savannah, Ga., January 12, 1865.
Adjutant General U. S. A. :
Sir, — I have the honor to apply for the promotion b\^
Brevet of the following named officers who have served
with distinction in the campaign against Atlanta and
Savannah :
Lt. Col. J. W. Bishop, 2d Minn. Vol. Inf'y.
These officers have not onh' commanded their troops
with uniform gallantry', but by their constant devotion to
dutj' and attention to all the details and necessities of their
commands, have brought them to a state of efficienc\^ which
entitles them to some recognition of their services.
I have the honor to be,
Very respectfully.
Your obedient servant, &c.,
Jef. C. Davis,
Brevt. Maj. Gen. Com'd'g.
Headquarters Left Wing, Army of Georgia.
Savannah, Ga., Jan'y 12, '65.
Respectfully forwarded, approved.
H. W. Slocum,
Maj. Gen. Com'd'g.
SECOND RECOMMENDATIOX.
Headquarters 14th A. C.
Washington, D. C, May 29, 1865.
Brig. Gen. L. Thomas, Adjt. Gen. U. S. Army, Wash-
ington, D. C. :
I have the honor to report that on the 12th of January
last I recommended Lt. Col. Bishop, of the 2d Minn. Vet.
Vols., to the Department for promotion to the grade of
Brigadier General b\^ Brevet. Since that time this officer
has been commissioned by the Governor of his state,
Colonel of his regiment, and as such mustered. I desire
248 Appendix.
respectfully to again ask the attention of the Department
to the merits and claims of Col. Bishop and to renew the
recommendation.
I am. ver3' respectfulh',
Jef. C. Davis,
Brvt. Maj. Gen. Com'd'g.
Headqi'arters Army of Georgia.
Near Washington, D. C, May 30, 1865.
Respectfully- forwarded to the Adjutant General of the
Army, approved.
H. W. Slocum,
Maj. Gen'l Com'd'g.
[No. 80.]
Regiment ReiDorted Read3^ for Discharge by Gen. J. W.
Bishop, Commanding Brigade.
(Original document in possession of J. W. B. )
Headquarters 1st Brig., 3d Diy., 14th Army Corps.
Louisville, Ky., July 8th, 1865.
Brev't Col. A. C. McClurg, A. A. G. and Chief of vStaff,
14th A. C:
Colonel,— Lt. Col. C. S. Uline, commanding 2d Regt.
Minn. Vet. Vol. Inf 'y, reports that regiment ready, and to
be mustered for discharge tomorrow — the 9th.
I have therefore the honor to request that I may be
ordered to assume command of and to report it to chief
mustering officer at Fort Snelling, Minn., for discharge and
final pa^nnent.
In making this application, permit me to sa3^ that as the
time draws near when we are to leave the comrades we
have so long served with, there are few, if any, who do not
find that the jo\' and pride that we feel in the knowledge
that our redeemed countr3' no longer needs our service in
the field, is mingled with a sadness that alwaA's attends
the breaking up of long wonted associations.
Identified with the fortunes of the 14th Corps from its
organization, and in it the only representative of the State
that sent us to the field, it has been equalW our care and
our pride as a regiment, that Minnesota should never
Appendix. _ 249
blush for the 14th Corps, and that the 14th Corps should
never droop its laurels with shame at the name of Min-
nesota.
With the most grateful remembrance of the soldierly
courtesy- with which we have been uniformly treated by
our comrades in arms from other states of the same, our
own, country, I desire especially to ackno-wledge the kindh'
interest in the regiment which has been so often manifested
by the Generals commanding the Division and the Corps.
I am. Colonel, ver}- respectfully.
Your most obedient servant,
J. W. Bishop,
Col. 2d Minn. Vols.,
and Brv't. Brig. Gen. Com'd'g Brigade.
[No. 31.]
Farewell Letter from Headquarters of 14th .\rmy Corps,
Gen. Jeff. C. Davis, Com'd'g.
(Official document in possession of J. W. B. )
He.\dquarters 14th Army Corps,
Louisville, Kv., July 9, 1865.
Gener.\l, — I have the honor to enclose to you a copy of
the order relieving your regiment from the Corps and
directing you to report it at Fort Snelling.
Until the time of separation came, none knew how
strong were the attachments formed during the months
and years of association in hardships and dangers as
soldiers. His relations to the officers and men of the 2d
Minnesota have alwa^-s been a matter of pride and satis-
faction to the Corps Commander, and from no regiment in
the corps will he part with a deeper regret. He thanks one
and all of the members of the organization for the con-
stancy' and devotion which have ahvays marked their
attention to the duties and requirements of soldiers in
camp and on the march as well as on the field of action.
He congratulates you that j^our labors, hardships and
dangers are over, and that with a country restored to peace
and prosperity — partly through your exertions and sacri-
fices, you return once more to your homes.
250 . Appendix.
None have a better record for discipline and drill and all
the minutiae of soldierly conduct as well as uniform gal-
lantry on every field of action in which they have been
engaged than the 2d Minnesota, and 3'our state owes 3'ou
thanks for the uniformh- faithful manner in which you
have performed your share of the task allotted to the
soldiers of the Union.
Very respectfully 3'Our obedient servant, &c.,
A. C. McClurg, Brvt. Col..
A. A. G. and Chief of Staff.
Brvt. Brig. Gen. J. W. Bishop,
Com'd'g 2d Minn. Vols.
[No. 32.]
Final Order to Report at Fort Snelling for Muster-Out.
(Original document in possession of J. W. B.)
He.^dquarters 1-4TH Army Corps,
Louisville, Ky., July 9, 1865.
Special Orders, )
No. 5. j
( Extract. )
II. The 2d Minnesota V. ^^ Infantry having been mus-
tered on muster-out rolls, in accordance with existing
orders, Brvt. Brig. Genl. j. W. Bishop. Colonel of the
regiment, is hereby at his own request relieved from
command of the 1st Brigade, 3d Division, 14th A. C, and
will proceed forthwith with his regiment to Fort Snelling,
Minn., and there report it in accordance with provisions of
General Orders. No. 94, (C. S.) A. G. O., to the Chief Mus-
tering Officer of the State of Minnesota (or his assistant at
that point) for final discharge.
By command of Brevet Major Jeff. C. Davis.
A. C. McClurg,
Asst. Adjt. Genl. and Chief of Staff.
Brvt. Brig. Genl. J. W. Bishop,
Com'd'g 1st Brig., 3d Div., 14th A. C.
Appendix. 251
[No. 33.]
ROSTER OF COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
In Service when the Regiment Departed for the South,
October, 1861.
FIELD AND STAFF.
Colonel, Horatio P. Van Cleve; Lieutenant Colonel.
James George; Major, Alexander Wilkin; Adjutant, Daniel
Heaney ; Quartermaster, W. S. Grow; Quartermaster Ser-
geant, S. D. Parsons; Sergeant Major, C. A. Cilley; Sur-
geon, R. H. Bingham; Assistant Surgeon, M. C. Tolman ;
Chaplain, T. R. Cressey.
Company- A — Captain, Judson W. Bishop; 1st Lieut..
Charles Haven; 2d Lieut., Charles H. Barnes.
Compan\- B — Captain William Markham; 1st Lieut.,
Daniel Heane3- ; 2d Lieut., Abram Harkins.
Company C— Captain, Peter Mantor; 1st Lieut., Henry
C. Simpson; 2d Lieut., David B. Bailev.
Company D — Captain, Horace H. Western; 1st Lieut.,
Moses C. Tuttle; 2d Lieut., Samuel P. Jennison.
Company E — Captain, Asgrim K. Skaro; 1st Lieut.,
E. St. Julian Cox; 2d Lieut., Jeremiah C. Donahower.
Company F — Captain, John B. Davis; 1st Lieut., David
B. Loomis ; 2d Lieut., John S. Livingston.
Company G— Captain, Andrew R. Kiefer; 1st Lieut.,
Jacob Mainzer; 2d Lieut., Fred A. Brandt.
Company H — Captain, Nelson W. Dickinson; 1st Lieut.,
John R. Beatt}' ; 2d Lieut., Jerome Dame.
Company I — Captain, John Foote; 1st Lieut., W^illiam
S. Grow; 2d Lieut., Calvin S. Uline.
Company K— Captain, J. J. Noah; 1st Lieut., Wm. W.
Woodbur}' ; 2d Lieut., Ephraim A. Otis.
[No. 34.]
ROSTER OF COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
At Re-Enlistment, Chattanooga, Tenn., Januar3% 1864.
FIELD AND STAFF.
Colonel, James George, absent on sick leave; Lieut. Col.,
J. W. Bishop, Com'd'g; Major, John B. Davis; Adjutant, J.
W. Wood; Quartermaster, S. D. Parsons; Surgeon, M. C.
Tolman; Assistant Surgeon, W^m. Brown.
252 AlM'KNDIX.
Company A — Captain, Levi Obei'; 1st Lieut., Ed. Kenny.
Company B — Captain, Abram Harkins; 1st Lieut., W.
W. Wilson ; 2d Lieut., John C. Jones.
Compan}^ C— Captain, C. A. Cilley ; 1st Lieut., H. K.
Couse ; 2d Lieut., Matthias Thoeny.
Company D — Captain, John Moulton ; 1st Lieut., Hiram
Lobdell.
Company E — Captain, J. C. Donahower; 1st Lieut.,
Augustus E. Alden ; 2d Lieut., Thomas G. Scott.
Company F— Captain, David B. Loomis ; 1st Lieut.,
John S. Livingston; 2d Lieut., Edward Wait.
Company G— Captain, C. F. Meyer; 1st Lieut., Henning
V. Rumohr; 2d Lieut., Charles Rampe.
Company H — Captain, John R. Beatty ; 1st Lieut., L. N.
Holmes; 2d Lieut., Thomas G. (Juayle.
Company I — Captain, C. S. Uline; 1st Lieut., Tenljroeck
Stout.
Company K — Captain, W. W. Woodbury-; 2d Lieut., D.
S. Coverdale.
[No. 35.]
FINAL ROSTER OF COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
At Muster-out, July, 1865.
Colonel, Judson W. Bishop (Brvt. Brigadier General);
Lieutenant Colonel, C. S. Uline; Major, John Moulton;
Adjutant, F. S. Hoffstott; Surgeon, Wm. Brown; Chaplain,
Levi Gleason ; Quartermaster, J. L. Kenny; Sergeant
Major, W. C. W\'nkoop ; Quartermaster Sergeant, W. C.
Garrett; Commissary Sergeant, Samuel Bowler; Hospital
Steward, Robert Bailey; Musician, R. G. Rhodes (leader of
the band).
Company A — Ca]3t. Ed. L. Kenny; 1st Lieut., .\. Kalder;
2d Lieut., A. McCorkle.
Company B— Captain. J. W. Wood; 1st Lieut., J. L.
Gaskill; 2d Lieut., F. Kelsey.
Company C— Captain M. Tlioeny; 1st Lieut., W. H.
Mills ; 2d Lieut., J. V. Jackson.
Company D— Captain, G. W. Shuman; 1st Lieut., J. T.
McCov; 2d'Lieut., ]. W. Stuart.
Company E— Captain, T. G. Scott; 1st Lieut., B. F.
Sylvester; 2d Lieut.. T. D. Fowble.
Ai'i'KNOix. 253
Company F — Captain, J. S. Livingston; 1st Lieut., C.
H. Friend; 2d Lieut., F. R. Harris.
Company G — Captain, H. V. Rumohr; 1st Lieut., A. O.
Essen ; 2d Lieut., F. Lambrecht.
Compan^^ H— Captain, L. N. Holmes; 1st Lieut., \i. K.
VVasser; 2d Lieut., Daniel Fagan.
Company I— Captain, T. Stout; 1st Lieut., \i. WDiekev;
2d Lieut., H. H. Hills.
Company K — Captain, D. S. Coverdale; 1st Lieut., A.
H. Reed; 2d Lieut., A. B. White.
(Only three of these offieers appear in the list of (jriginal
eommissioned offieers.)
[No. 36.]
MEMORANDA.
Date of mustering the first two companies June 26, 1861
Date of organization as a regiment July 22, 1861
Date of re-muster in as veterans Dec. 29, 1863
Date of final payment and discharge J"ly 20, 1865
Number of men mustered into the regiment 1.780
Number of men commissioned as officers 91
Number of men wounded in action 276
Of whom were killed or mortally wounded 68
Number of men died of diseases 167
Number of men discharged for disability 277
Number transfei-red or promoted out of the regiment.. 76
Number reported as deserted 61
Number of officers resigned 40
Number of men discharged at the end of three years'
time, or at end of war and awa3' from regiment... 353
Number of men present at final discharge of regiment 699
Number of men on the rolls at the final muster out 821
It appears that of the whole number of men mustered
into the regiment from first to last, about 15 per cent were
wounded in battle, and about one foxirth of these were
killed or mortally wounded.
Nearly 9 per cent of the whole number died in the
service of disease, and 15 per cent were discharged for dis-
ability ; 4^/2 per cent were transferred or promoted out of
the regiment, 3V2 per cent deserted the service, and 'Jli per
cent (officers) resigned for various reasons during the four
years' service. Twenty per cent of the whole number were
254 Appendix.
discharged at the expiration of the original years' enlist-
ment, and at the close of the war but awa\^ from the regi-
ment, and 40 per cent of the whole number were present in
the regiment at its final muster out.
Of the thirt^'-seven commissioned officers who were in
the regiment at the end of its service, only three were com-
missioned officers at the beginning; all the others (except
the surgeon) had been promoted from the ranks.
While the regiment had various periods of encampment
or post dut3',it had considerable exercise on foot. In 1862,
'63 and '64 it marched by the record 5,153 miles; an
average of 4% miles a day, including Sundays, for the
whole time. No record was kept for 1861 or 1805. It is
believed, however, that the average daily marching in tho.se
years would exceed that for the years given.
[No. 37.]
RE-UNION OF 1887.
Letter from Colonel H. V. X. Boynton.
Washington, Aug. 11, 1887.
My Dear General Bishop, — You may be sure I was
glad to receive your invitation for the re-union of the
Second Minnesota — of glorious deeds and memories. The
historical pamphlet you sent me was one of the most wel-
come documents I ever received. For, aside from all that
pertained to your own regiment, there was much w^hich
was common to all the comrades in the brigade. In fact,
it is impossible to separate the history of the Second Min-
nesota, the Thirty-fifth Ohio, the Ninth Ohio and the
Eighty-seventh Indiana. I am sure each is proud of the
splendid record of the others. No doubt it has often
occurred to you, as it has to me, that while nian3' other
brigades did all that could be done on many fields, it hap-
pened to few to have the record of ours in one respect. We
had the peculiar good fortune to be never obliged either by
the enemv or by the contingencies of movements on any
field to give a foot of ground in the presence of the enemy.
That is a heritage which we all share. It would give me
keen pleasure to meet you again. Give an old comrade's
love to the living veterans of your regiment. They may
not remember me, but I have vividly and proudly in mind
their splendid bearing at Chicamauga and Mission Ridge
Appendix. 255
and other fields of their renown. I am sorry that I cannot
attend the re-union; if it were possible, I would go.
Believe me, dear General, with a thrill of the old times,
Cordially yours,
H. Y. BOYNTON,
(Late Lt. Col. com'd'g 35th Ohio Vols. )
Telegram from Colonel Ferdinand VanDerveer.
Hamilton, Ohio, Sept. 15, 1887.
To Gen. J. W. Bishop:
I wish I could meet with the old bo3's of the Second
Minnesota today. Their soldierh^ qualities were unsur-
passed on the field of battle. 1 remember them as the
regiment without a straggler at Cbicamauga. Convey to
them not only my profound respect but say in addition
that my heart goes out to them. They deserve well of our
country.
Ygj-y truly,
F. VanDerveer,
(Late Col. 35th Ohio Vols., com'd'g Brigade.)
Letter from General A. Baird.
Hotel Chatham, Paris, Oct. 1st, 1887.
Gen. J. W. Bishop:
My Dear General, — Your kind letter of Sept. 3d, invit-
ing me to attend the re-union of the surviving members of
the Second Minnesota Regiment on Sept. 15th, has been
forwarded and has reached me here, where I have been to
attend certain military maneuvers of French troops. It
reached my hand too late for a reply to be read at the
meeting, which I regret as well as not being able to be
there m^'self.
The word "surviving" which you use is a sad one. Most
of the men must have been younger than L 3'et I survive,
but to retire from active service next 3-ear. Everv- man of
the Second Mhmesota Regiment ought to feel proud that
he belonged to it. I have known \'our regiment well, as
3^ou know. I have seen the soldiers of all countries, and I
can truthfullv sav that I have never seen men that I would
256 Appendix.
more willingl.v trust myself with in an hour requiring the
highest strain on manhood and bravery, than those of the
Second Minnesota.
With the warmest friendshi]:) for yourseU" and for the
regiment,
Most truly yours,
A. Haiku,
(Late Maj. Gen. com'd'g Division.)
Letter froni General \V. S. Kosecrans.
Treasury Department, Register's Office.
Sept. 6th, 1887.
J. W. Bishop, Esq. :
Dear Comrade, — I remember the Second Minnesota
ver3^ well, and am a witness to their gallantry, patriotism
and courage. I have good reason to remember it grate-
fully.
Please present my best wishes to the assembled comrades
and tell them that, if dutv permitted, I should enjoy noth-
ing better than to be at the re-union in St. Paul on the 15th
inst.
Since dictating the above, the pamphlet "Official Records"
of the regiment hris come to hand, and revives many lively
memories of the Second's lighting and staying qualities.
My warmest good wishes to each comrade of that regi-
ment.
Very tndy yours,
W. S. ROSECRANS.
( Late Maj. (ien. com'd'g Army oL'the Cumberland. )
\V